Official document Legion of Honor 1953 Ministry of National Defense former

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

Old administrative document dated 1953, from the Ministry of National Defense, Central Directorate of Army Health Services. The item presented includes an official typewritten letter accompanied by its original envelope, both visible in the photo. The letter is addressed to Monsieur le Pharmacien Capitaine honoraire Eugène Etienne Marie Delmas, residing in Decazeville (Aveyron). The document's letterhead and the visible stamp indicate an institutional origin, with the mention "MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE NATIONALE" (MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE) and the reference "1963/BT/DESA".

The letter concerns the Legion of Honor, more specifically the acknowledgment of receipt of a candidacy for the rank of knight, dated October 15, 1952. The text mentions that the recipient's qualifications will be examined during the Legion of Honor's work in 1953. The handwritten signature, as well as the mention of the Médecin Général Inspecteur (Inspector General Doctor), add an authentic touch to this period administrative document.

The visible envelope bears the letterhead "ASSEMBLÉE NATIONALE" (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY) and a red stamp franked in Paris, with the recipient's address typewritten. The whole presents a typical appearance of administrative correspondence from the 1950s, with a neat layout, period typography, and official stamps. The letter is written in French, with some personal information partially masked by the image's layout.

The document and envelope show a slight natural yellowing of the paper, consistent with their age. No decorative details are observable; the presentation remains sober and formal, typical of French administrative archives from the mid-20th century. The main text, stamps, and signatures are clearly legible on the visible side.

This type of official correspondence testifies to the administrative procedures related to the awarding of honorary distinctions in France, and represents a historical record of the management of Legion of Honor files by military and civilian authorities during this period.

Condition

Used document, sold as is. Shows signs of wear, folds, and slight marks related to storage and handling, visible in the photo. The original envelope also shows handling marks and slight yellowing.

Did you know? The Legion of Honor, created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the highest French honorary distinction. The awarding of the rank of knight is subject to a meticulous examination of qualifications and services rendered, with each candidacy studied by a specific commission, as illustrated by this type of administrative correspondence.

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