1729 French Royal Artillery Officer’s Appointment — Louis XV & Louis d’Orléans — Sapper Company

Original French manuscript military appointment issued at Versailles on August 15, 1729, in the name of King Louis XV, with a subsequent reception order issued under Louis, Duke of Orléans, at the Palais-Royal in September of the same year.

The royal order appoints an officer whose name appears as Sieur de Mallaville to the rank of second lieutenant in a company of sappers within the Royal Artillery Regiment. Addressed to the Duke of Maine as “my uncle,” it directs that the officer be received and recognized in his new position.

The lower portion contains a complementary order headed “Louis d’Orléans, Premier Prince du Sang,” identifying the duke as Colonel General of the French and Foreign Infantry and directing implementation of the appointment.

Written in French in an elegant administrative hand, with an elaborate opening initial, signatures reading “Louis” and “Louis d’Orléans,” additional administrative signatures, and a contemporary address panel on the reverse. The personal autograph status of the principal signatures has not been independently authenticated; the royal signature may be secretarial.

An appealing surviving record of officer appointments and the organization of specialist troops in the French army during the early reign of Louis XV.

Condition: Age toning, intersecting folds, scattered spotting, small holes, fold splits, and irregular losses along the edges. Several old tape repairs appear on the reverse. Principal text remains substantially legible. See photographs.