Giuseppe Garibaldi

GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI (1807–1882)

Franco-Prussian War Letter Signed by Garibaldi as Commander of the Army of the Vosges, Accompanied by a Contemporary Carte-de-Visite Portrait

Lyon, France, October 10, 1870

One of the most celebrated revolutionaries and military leaders of the nineteenth century, Giuseppe Garibaldi occupies a unique place in European history. Revered as the hero of Italian unification and commander of the legendary Redshirts, Garibaldi became an international symbol of liberty, nationalism, and republican government. His exploits earned him admiration throughout Europe and the Americas, making him one of the most recognizable political figures of his age.

Offered here is an original autograph letter signed by Garibaldi during one of the most dramatic episodes of his remarkable career—his service to the newly proclaimed French Republic during the Franco-Prussian War. The letter is written on official stationery of the Armée des Vosges (Army of the Vosges) and dated Lyon, October 10, 1870, only weeks after the collapse of Napoleon III’s Second Empire.

Following the disastrous French defeat at the Battle of Sedan in September 1870, the French Republic appealed for assistance in resisting the advancing Prussian armies. Although Italian by birth and already a legendary national hero, Garibaldi immediately offered his services. The French government accepted, placing him in command of the newly formed Army of the Vosges, a volunteer force organized to defend eastern France during the war.

Written from Lyon, one of Garibaldi’s principal headquarters, the letter concerns the recommendation of an officer for military service. In translation, Garibaldi writes:

“My dear Commandant,

I recommend to you Monsieur [name difficult to decipher], an officer of the Italian Legion. If you can find him a place within your corps, you would greatly oblige me.

Please accept, my dear Commandant, the assurance of my profound respect.”

Colonel Commandant,
G. Garibaldi

While brief, the letter perfectly reflects Garibaldi’s activities during the autumn of 1870 as he organized volunteers, recruited officers, and assembled forces for the defense of the French Republic. Documents from his Army of the Vosges command are especially sought after because they represent the final major military chapter in the life of one of Europe’s greatest revolutionary leaders.

Accompanying the letter is an original nineteenth-century carte-de-visite portrait of Garibaldi, captioned “Garibaldi, from life.” Produced during the period of Garibaldi’s international fame, the photograph presents an evocative contemporary likeness of the revolutionary statesman. Such portraits were widely collected throughout Europe and America, where Garibaldi’s popularity rivaled that of kings, presidents, and military heroes.

The pairing of the wartime letter and period photographic portrait creates a particularly compelling presentation. Together, they unite Garibaldi’s own signature and words with a contemporary image of the man himself, preserving a tangible connection to one of the defining political and military figures of the nineteenth century.

Authentic Garibaldi correspondence from the Franco-Prussian War remains highly desirable among collectors of European history, military history, Italian unification, and revolutionary movements. Few figures better embody the turbulent political transformations of nineteenth-century Europe, and few signatures carry the same combination of historical importance and international recognition.

An exceptional relic from the final military campaign of the “Hero of Two Worlds,” accompanied by a contemporary portrait of the man whose name became synonymous with freedom, revolution, and national unity.