Duc de RICHELIEU (Armand-E.-S.-S., du Plessis) 1767 - 1822 - President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs - Letter signed to M. le Chevalier de VERAC - Paris, February 15, 1816: "M. le Duc de LUXEMBOURG having informed me of the desire you have to accompany him to BRAZIL, I have the honor to inform you that, after having received the approval of His Majesty, I have appointed you to be attached to this extraordinary mission, as Gentilhomme d'Ambassade". - 1p in-folio -

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.