Mehier Cédie & Cie – 1870 Invoice and Letter for Lefaucheux-Type Double Barrel Shotgun

Description

This paired invoice and accompanying letter, dated 23 January 1870, were issued by Mehier Cédie & Cie, a luxury arms manufacturer located at 11 Rue de Foy in Saint-Étienne. The invoice is addressed to Monsieur Mathieu of Paulhaguet and records the purchase of a "canon Lefaucheux" double-barreled shotgun, listed under the brand "Chambres gravées" (engraved chambers). The cost is recorded as 86 francs, and the document specifies that the merchandise was shipped at the client’s risk and expense.

The company letterhead emphasizes Mehier Cédie’s specialization in fuseils à silex et à percussion (flintlock and percussion rifles), pièces détachées (spare parts), and especially fusils Lefaucheux, pistols, and revolvers. This printed branding places the firm squarely within the ongoing commercialization of Lefaucheux-system firearms, which by 1870 had become a mainstay in French civilian and export markets. Though the letter does not expand on technical features, the specification of a Lefaucheux double-barrel shotgun implies a breech-loading pinfire mechanism, following Casimir Lefaucheux’s patented design.

The reverse letter, written in formal commercial French, confirms the sale and invites future orders, offering a small discount of 3 francs on the invoice amount, conditional on customer satisfaction. Together, these documents provide a detailed view of the firearms retail trade at the start of the 1870s and reflect the sustained popularity of Lefaucheux-pattern shotguns as refined, exportable sporting arms during the peak of their commercial lifecycle.