On December 16th, Artcurial will hold an exceptional auction dedicated to the personal writings and memorabilia of General de Gaulle, from the estate of Admiral Philippe de Gaulle. Over 370 lots, including private documents and personal objects, will be presented in this historic sale. Part of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Fondation Anne de Gaulle. 

In addition, from December 7th to 15th, Artcurial will host a public exhibition showcasing one of France’s most iconic historical documents: the original manuscript of the Appeal of June 18th, 1940 written in London by the General de Gaulle.

This extraordinary sale includes writings by Charles de Gaulle that illuminate the influences, thoughts, and events that shaped one of the most prominent figures in French history. Several drafts and key manuscripts from his theoretical and historical works will be auctioned, including a manuscript for The Enemy's Discord (estimated at €50,000–60,000) and drafts related to The Edge of the Sword, encompassing early research and preliminary drafts. 

History enthusiasts will also discover youthful writings by de Gaulle, such as the novella Zalaïna, written under the pseudonym Charles de Lugale (estimated at €4,000–5,000), as well as New German Campaign, penned when he was just 14 years old, revealing his early career deliberation between literature and the military (estimated at €10,000–15,000).

Unpublished notebooks containing philosophical reflections, political analyses, and literary commentary complete this collection, offering rare insight into General de Gaulle's ongoing intellectual development.

The sale also includes a significant collection of General de Gaulle’s private correspondence, including heartfelt letters exchanged with his son Philippe, family letters like one sent to his wife during the battles of May 1940 (estimated at €7,000–8,000), and coded letters written to his mother during his captivity at the end of World War I.

This private correspondence is enriched with letters exchanged with notable contemporaries, such as François Mauriac, André Malraux, Georges Bernanos, and Paul Claudel, as well as letters from Winston Churchill, and even messages from Josephine Baker, signed “Your loyal and rogue Gaullist.” 

In addition to written documents, personal items belonging to General de Gaulle will be auctioned, including his LIP R 27 wristwatch (estimated at €6,000–10,000) and a table clock gifted by Eunice Kennedy and her husband Sargent Shriver for Christmas in 1969. These items, along with military decorations and other memorabilia, represent every stage of Charles de Gaulle’s life, from childhood to his retirement from public life. Personal mementoes of Philippe de Gaulle complete this journey through the century.

Honouring de Gaulle’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable, a portion of the auction’s proceeds will be donated to the Anne de Gaulle Foundation. Established in 1945 and recognized as a public utility, the Foundation, named after de Gaulle’s daughter Anne, who had Down syndrome, provides housing and support services for people with disabilities.

From December 7th to 15th, 2024 at Artcurial, the original manuscript of Appeal of June 18th, 1940, written by General de Gaulle in London after the resignation of Paul Reynaud’s government will be exhibited to the public for the fist time. On the morning of June 18th, with desperate negotiations still ongoing in Bordeaux, General de Gaulle and his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Geoffroy de Courcel, drafted this speech, later typed by young Élisabeth de Miribel. Despite British cabinet resistance, which considered the timing premature, de Gaulle secured a last-minute agreement to broadcast. The heavily corrected manuscript reveals the original version. This historic Appeal, delivered by de Gaulle on the BBC, embodies the “flame of French Resistance” and reflects his strategic foresight regarding the conflict’s global scale. 

The document is accompanied by a note from Yvonne de Gaulle, written on one of her calling cards: “Manuscript of the 18 June Appeal… This manuscript was given to me by the General in London on 19 June 1940. He told me to keep it safe. If I succeed, it will become part of our children’s heritage.” 

This exceptional document is being displayed to the public outside of the auction context.