Abdelkader al-Jazairi, Emir of Mascara, Algerian freedom fighter (1808-1883). Autograph letter with tughra stamp.

N. p. [probably Damascus], [24 Aug. 1865 =] 1 Rabi' al-Thani 1282.

Small folio (310 x 210 mm). 8 lines in Arabic on bifolium. With a French translation in a different hand on the same page.

 2,800.00

Letter of recommendation for one of Adelkader's sons to Stéphane Poignant, the prefect of Algiers: "A sa seigneurie le grand, l'élevé, Monsieur le Préfet d'Alger, que Dieu vous bénisse [...] Nous espérons de votre bonté et de votre excellente initiative, un bon accueil en faveur du porteur Es-Séid Kaddour ben Mahi Ed-din qui est au nombre de mes enfants et qui compte parmi les personnes que nous chérissons le plus. Nous espérons que vous l'aiderez de tout votre pouvoir dans ses affaires [...]".

Stéphane Poignant served as prefect of the Department of Algiers from 1864 to 1869. Emir Abd el-Kader is an important figure in the Algerian resistance to French colonisation. Captured in 1847, he was held in France and released in 1852. After spending some time in Paris, he travelled the Middle East and settled in Syria in 1860. During the anti-Christian riots in the same year, he saved numerous Christians threatened by the Druze from massacre, which brought him international recognition.

Traces of folds and some browning.

Stock Code: BN#59220 Tags: , , ,