OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, 1850 - CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PORT OF NANTES, FRANCE. A SIGNED AND SEALED CERTIFICATE ATTESTING THE SIGNATURE OF ÉVARISTE JEAN-MARIE COLOMBEL (1813-1856), THE SITTING MAYOR OF NANTES TO BE TRUE "AND THAT TO ALL ACTS THUS BY HIM SIGNED, FULL FAITH AND CREDIT ARE AND OUGHT TO BE GIVEN, BOTH IN AND OUT OF COURT." United States Consulate, Nantes.

Single sheet. 10 ½ x 8 inches. Part printed, filled in manuscript. On Consulate letter head with the Great Seal of the United States at top, signed with blue paper wafer seal depicting the American bald eagle and silk ribbon. Creased at folds, small tear to inner blank margin, paper toned with some minor ink burn and offsetting. Very good. Document is signed by Hippolyte Roques, consul, dated March 2, 1850. Hippolyte Roques was nominated consul of the United States for the Port of Nantes by James Buchanan, Secretary of State, in August 1848. At the time, Mrs. S. L. Martial was the interim consul after he husband, Dr. A. Martial who had been on the job for 12 years had died. In his acceptance letter dated February 1st, 1849, Hippolyte Roques writes, "Mrs. Martial the widow of the late American Council has submitted to me all the papers concerning the Consulate." He held the post until December 13, 1861. Cf. National Archives, Dispatches from U.S. Consuls in Nantes, France, 1790-1906. Rare. [United States History - France]