PARMENTIER ANTOINE AUGUSTIN: (1737-1813) French Agronomist well remembered for promoting the potato

PARMENTIER ANTOINE AUGUSTIN: (1737-1813) French Agronomist well remembered for promoting the potato

‘This will be my last work’

 

PARMENTIER ANTOINE AUGUSTIN: (1737-1813) French Agronomist well remembered for promoting the potato as a food source in France and Europe. Among his many other contributions to nutrition and health are the mandatory smallpox vaccination campaign under Napoleon. He also studied methods of conserving food, including refrigeration. An excellent A.L.S., `Parmentier´, one page, 4to, n.p., dated in another hand 17th January 1781, to Joseph-Etienne Renou, in French. Parmentier first refers to his correspondent´s spouse, stating in part `J´ai passé huit jours a Versailles d´où je ne suis de retour qu´hier…votre femme est a la tête de mon petit catalogue de bonnes ménageres, avec le gout de l´étude et du travail que vous ne pouviez pas mona mi vous associer a une compagne plus digne… ma soeur voudrait bien l´embrasser..´ (“I spent eight days in Versailles, from where I only returned yesterday... your wife is at the head of my little catalogue of good housewives, with a taste for study and work that you could not my friend associate you with a more worthy companion... my sister would like to embrace her..”) Parmentier further refers to a colleague´s work and to his own last work which he states will be the last, saying `Je verrai Mr. Bayern et lui ferai lire l´article de votre lettre qui le concerne; il acheve un travail des plus importants sur l étain. Il m´en a promis un exemplaire que je vous enverrai avec mon traité des disettes auquel je m´occupe sans relache. Ce será mon dernier ouvrage´ (“I will see Mr. Bayern and have him read the article in your letter which concerns him; he is completing one of the most important works on pewter. He promised me a copy that I will send you together with my treatise on food shortages about which am working on without respite. This will be my last work”) Before concluding, Parmentier makes an amusing comment regarding his published works, stating `Je redoute la réputation de maniaque en ce genre. Je suis tellement mécontent de vos intérêts que je crains bien d´avoir une vive altercation avec le premier que je rencontrerai. Je vous embrasse et vous réitere l´amitié irrévocable..´ (“I dread the reputation of a maniac in this genre. I am so unhappy with your interests that I am afraid I will have a heated altercation with the first one I meet. I embrace you and reiterate my irrevocable friendship..”) With blank integral leaf. Very small overall minor staining, otherwise G to VG

 

Joseph-Etienne Renou (1740-1809) French partner of Parmentier. They were both involved in the coal mining in western mines in France.

Madame Parmentier-Houzeau, sister of Antoine Parmentier, was also his personal secretary and assistant. She worked and helped her brother during his long absences, looking for influent supports to Parmentier´s researchs.