PATENT OF APOTHICARY signed LOUIS XIV (Secretary) Contresigned PHELYPEAUX - Parchment (28 x 42) - "Today 7 May 1709, The ROY being in MARLY, Claude BIET one of the 4 Apothecaries of His Majesty presented that by Patent of 5 May 1708. She would have had the goodness to ensure him the sum of 24000 pounds on the Price and rewards of the aforementioned office in case he came to resign from it or died...". This last one indebted by a Loan engages his Patent in guarantee of the sum requested from his 3 particular creditors. "And for insurance of what above, his Majesty ordered me to dispatch the present Patent, which it signed of his hand..."

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.