Maggs Bros. Ltd.

These placards mortuaires, or death notices, were ephemeral pieces that would form part of the jobbing work of a printer, to be printed and posted publicly around the parish, announcing local deaths and funerals. As these twelve placards attest, they were generally printed for members of the church or those of the middling and prosperous classes, with perhaps the most "working class" occupation represented here being a cooper; even so, coopers were considered highly skilled craftsmen and could be rather well off. As with the present pieces, which all begin with large historiated memento mori initials, placards mortuaires were often elaborately illustrated with initials and, as the eighteenth century wore on, decorative borders - 'intended to reiterate the inexorable nature of death' (Lemaître, p.333).

The death notices here all originate from Bourges, France. They provide insight into life into the town during the time period, especially the various occupations of the inhabitants, the town's churches as well as its parishes.

Comprises:

(1) François-Joseph Teillay, prosecutor. Funeral service on 29 Nov. 1782 at the church of the RR. PP. Carmes. 420 by 530mm. Manuscript inscription in ink in a contemporary hand to verso reading "M. Le Lieutenant General."

(2) Lucie de Foucault, wife of Jacques-François de Durbois, knight, "Seigneur de Luet, & autre lieux" and former calvary captain. Funeral service on 29 Nov. 1782 at the church of Notre Dame du Fourchault. 425 by 540mm.

(3) Catherine-Jeanne Aupic, widow of Pierre Bengy, knight, "Seigneur de Puyvallée, Vasselay, Charnay, & autre lieux", king's councillor, Lieutenant General, etc. Funeral service on 14 March (no year, late 18th century) at the church of Saint Aoustrillet. 420 by 520mm. Some of the ink a bit smudged.

(4) Anne Chabenat-du-Préau, wife of Henry-Charles Picault, Captain of the 44th Infantry Regiment. Burial on 29 March 1806, funeral service on 31 March at the church of Saint Etienne. 380 by 500mm. Manuscript inscription in ink in a contemporary hand to verso reading "Mde. Thomberau" and "les autres de loitte (?) donné à Blauetier (?) le 9 avril."

(5) Pierre-Claude-François Dupin de la Maisonrouge, priest and canon of the cathedral. Funeral service on 29 June 1806 in the cathedral. 380 by 465mm.

(6) Jean Demahis-Dubreuzé, former elections councillor in Bourges and "procureur-fabricien" of the church of Saint Etienne. Funeral service on 15 Dec. 1807 at the same church. Printed in Bourges by Manceron. 420 by 540mm.

(7) Marie-Philippine Chevalier, wife of M. Devaux, General Secretary of the Prefecture of Cher. Funeral service on 16 Feb. 1809 at Saint Etienne church. Printed by J.B. Brulass. 370 by 460mm.

(8) Anne Berthomier, widow of Pierre Gorce, cooper. Funeral service on 29 Août 1814 in the church of Saint-Bonnet. Printed in Bourges by Manceron. 420 by 540mm. Manuscript inscription in ink in a contemporary hand to verso reading "Mer. de Bengy Lieutenant General."

(9) Anne-Victoire de la Chastre, widow of Nicolas de Cougny de la Presle, knight. Funeral service on 27 Oct. 1814 at the church of Saint Etienne. Printed by J.B. Brulass. 420 by 530mm. Rather wrinkled and with some vague damp stains to upper left and right corners.

(10) Bathilde de Bonnault. Funeral service on 30 Sept. 1834 at the church of Saint Etienne. Printed by P.A. Manceron. 430 by 440mm. Manuscript inscription in ink in a contemporary hand to verso reading "Cedeau".

(11) Marie Seguin, widow of M. Seguin, president of the civil tribunal of Bourges. Funeral service on 8 May 1837 at the church of Saint Etienne. Printed by P.A. Manceron. 430 by 540mm. Printed on blue paper.

(12) Madelaine-Rose de Chabenat, widow of Claude-Alexandre Cullon de Troisbrioux. Funeral service on 20 March 1837 at the church of Saint Etienne. Printed by P.A. Manceron. 430 by 540mm. Printed on blue paper and with a manuscript inscription in ink in a contemporary hand to verso reading "Mad. de Puirallée (?)".

All with minor defects such as vague folds/ wrinkles, but overall in remarkably good condition.

A. J. Lemaître, 'De la tragédie au drame: la mort, l'art et la société au XVIII siècle', Mémoires de la Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Bretagne, T. LXII, 1985, p.329-44.