Baron of Rio Branco makes annotations in his copy of Histoire de la Conciergerie , a work about one of the most emblematic monuments of Justice in Paris.
Book Histoire de la Conciergerie du Palais de Paris , which belonged to Baron of Rio Branco, with handwritten notes written by him.
303 pages, one page with notes from Baron of Rio Branco.
Book in French, notes in Portuguese.
12 cm x 18.5 cm x 2 cm.
January 18, 1912.
No information about original location.
Good condition.
Unique piece.
Text transcription
I bought it in the chapel of the old Girondin prison, – a continuation of the chains of M.ª An- toinette and Robespierre, – to the guide who showed me the old building.January 18, 1912
This copy of the book Histoire de la Conciergerie du Palais de Paris (1031–1911) tells the story of one of Paris’ most iconic buildings, which served as a royal residence, a revolutionary court, and a prison over the centuries. The Conciergerie was particularly famous for housing famous prisoners during the French Revolution, including Marie Antoinette and the Girondins. The book provides a detailed historical overview of the building and its role in the political and social transformations of France.
The copy belonged to Baron do Rio Branco, who left a handwritten note on the title page. In it, he records that he bought the book in the chapel of the Conciergerie itself — a former prison of the Girondins and, at the time, the chapel of the priests of the Archbishop of Paris. He notes, with a reflective tone, that he has a special interest in old buildings, which reveals a sensitive eye for material history and the places where events took place.
The annotation gives the book a unique value, showing how Baron of Rio Branco linked his readings to his direct experience of historical sites. More than a scholar of facts, he was someone who sought to experience history in its physical and symbolic dimensions. This small handwritten commentary reveals an intimate and almost romantic side of his relationship with the past.
