The auction dedicated to General de Gaulle’s life commenced with remarkable energy, immediately drawing the attention of bidders. A small lead soldier (lot 4), a relic of his childhood, was acquired by the Archives du Nord for €6,560 including fees, exceeding its estimate by twenty times. The manuscript of Campagne d'Allemagne (lot 5), written by a young Charles de Gaulle at the age of 14, reached €28,864 in just a few minutes. This success continued with his school report (lot 6), which sold for €52,480, and his high school diploma (lot 8), which fetched €41,984 including fees, confirming the historical and symbolic significance of these items.

The Bibliothèque national français marked the occasion by acquiring several iconic lots, including the account of the 1920 Polish campaign (lot 80) for €62,976, as well as the 1940 notebook in which the General detailed the organization of Free France (lot 147) for €104,960. The auction also featured notable highlights such as the report on de Gaulle’s five escape attempts between 1916 and 1918 (lot 102), sold for €65,600 including fees, and his military ID card (lot 138), which exceeded its estimate by sixty times to reach €60,352.

Among the standout pieces of this remarkable sale, General de Gaulle’s Baccarat crystal rooster (lot 192) achieved €65,600. Two poignant pieces of correspondence also captured collectors’ attention: a letter from Joséphine Baker to de Gaulle in 1947 (lot 201), and a letter addressed to Jean Moulin’s sister (lot 204), both selling for €26,240.

One of the highlights of the sale was a handwritten letter by Churchill signed as Prime Minister (lot 257), which sold for €107,584. Finally, the centerpiece of the auction was a LIP Calibre R 27 « Patent Pending » watch, worn by General de Gaulle. This exceptional watch achieved €537,920, including fees, setting a world record for a watch by the prestigious French watchmaking house.