VIDOCQ EUGENE-FRANCOIS: (1775-1857) French criminal turned criminalist who is considered to be ...

VIDOCQ EUGENE-FRANCOIS: (1775-1857) French criminal turned criminalist who is considered to be the first private detective. Vidocq, the father of modern criminology and of the French national police force, was the founder and first director of the Surete Nationale, France´s first criminal investigative agency, and the head of the first known private detective agency. His life story inspired several writers including Victor Hugo and Edgar Allan Poe. A.L.S., Vidocq, one page, 8vo, Paris, 4th March 1842, to Monsieur [Joseph-Antoine-Charles] Couderc, in French. Vidocq commences his letter stating ´Au moment ou vous devez quitter Paris je viens me rappeler a votre souvenir et vous prier d´avoir la complaissance d´engager Mr. Belleville a etre assez bon pour vous remplacer et me procurer quelques fois des billets´ (Translation: ´At the moment when you have to leave Paris I come to remember you and ask you to have the kindness to engage Mr. Belleville to be good enough to replace you and sometimes procure tickets for me´) and further remarks ´Je ne l´importunerai pas frequement, je suis comme vous le savez, fort modeste mais j´aime assez les places avantageuse. Je compte sur vos bon offices et sur l´obligeance de M. Belleville a qui je vous prie de presenter a l´avance l´assurance de ma gratitude´ (Translation: ´I will not bother him frequently, I am as you know, very modest but I quite like advantageous places. I am counting on your good offices and on the kindness of Mr. Belleville to whom I ask you to present in advance the assurance of my gratitude´). With integral address leaf in Vidocq´s hand and with a small area of paper loss caused by the original breaking of the seal. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

Joseph-Antoine-Charles Couderc (1810-1875) French operatic tenor, and later baritone, who frequently performed at the Opera Comique in Paris where he created numerous roles.