Mathias Meyer is a French autograph collector and dealer, internationally recognized for his work, who brings history to life by sharing stories behind historical manuscripts.
Sciences & Technology
In this letter, Champollion isn’t triumphant, he’s searching. From Abu Simbel’s hieroglyphs, he questions, deciphers, doubts. Ramses II, Ahmosis, Ergamenes: each name fuels his quest. A rare glimpse of a genius still learning, still passionate, still human.
History & Society
A rare 1893 prison letter by Charles Baïhaut, the only French official to confess in the Panama Canal corruption scandal. He defends his actions, denounces selective justice, and offers a unique firsthand view of one of France’s earliest political-financial crises.
Arts & Culture
This 1993 storyboard by James Hegedus captures two iconic Forrest Gump scenes, his mother’s parting wisdom and the famous “box of chocolates” moment. In them lies the film’s soul: life’s unpredictability met with grace, sincerity, and a mother’s lasting voice guiding Forrest’s journey.
Sports
In 1998, Pelé pens a candid letter blending surreal travel tales, critiques of post-Soviet chaos, and bold takes on Korean history, revealing the man behind the myth: curious, blunt, and unexpectedly political.
Sciences & Technology
In 1924, as Walter Chrysler launched the Chrysler Six, he paused to write his teenage son a warm, encouraging letter. Amid corporate ambition, this note reveals a father's quiet support at a pivotal moment, for both his company and his son’s future.
Arts & Culture
In June 1912, Monet, troubled by cataracts, painted fervently in Giverny and wrote a humble, emotional letter to Gustave Geffroy. Doubting his talent, he prioritized feeling over form. A touching postscript reveals his deep friendship with Georges Clemenceau.
Arts & Culture
In 2005, Paul McCartney wrote a heartfelt handwritten letter remembering John Lennon, his teenage friend, songwriting partner, and lifelong inspiration. Forgotten in an archive and found in 2017, it’s a rare and intimate glimpse into a friendship that shaped music history.
Sciences & Technology
In this rare signed typescript, Einstein examines his decision to alert Roosevelt about the atomic bomb, expressing deep regret and reaffirming his pacifist beliefs. He ends by honoring Gandhi as a model of nonviolence and moral courage in the face of global destruction.
Sciences & Technology
In a rare letter, Neil Armstrong thanks a teacher named Debbie and encourages her students, linking their pursuit of knowledge to the same spirit that took humans to the Moon—emphasizing that learning is both the key and the quest of human progress.
History & Society
In a 1995 letter from Brazil, fugitive Ronnie Biggs candidly reflects on his role in the Great Train Robbery, admitting it was driven by greed. Stripped of bravado, his words reveal regret and offer a rare, personal glimpse into a notorious life lived in exile.
Sciences & Technology
Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke penned a heartfelt note offering spiritual support to a friend, revealing his deep faith. Beyond his lunar legacy, this rare message shows the human side of a Moonwalker—compassionate, personal, and grounded in belief.
Sciences & Technology
In 1904, Louis Lumière sent a handwritten postcard thanking a family for their portrait’s use—marking a turning point in visual culture. This rare item captures the birth of the photographic postcard and hints at the future of image sharing, a century before Instagram.