Beschreibung
The Strange Career of the Chevalier D'eon de Beaumont. Minister Plenipotentiary from France to Great Britain in 1763. By Captain J. Buchan Telfer, R.N., F.S.A., F.R.G.S., Author of "The Crimea and Transcaucasia," "The Bondage and Travels of Johann Schiltberger," etc. With Portraits and Facsimile. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1885. Included is a signed manuscript letter by the author J. Buchan Telfer, speaking on the subject of this biography. 378 pp, 9 x 5.5", 8vo. In fair condition. Red cloth boards are scuffed at edges & worn/bumped at corners. Head of spine lacking - binding exposed. Spine tanned from sun exposure. Gilt lettering on spine generally soiled. Water dampness staining to front hinge, causing discoloration throughout text-block. Previous ownership bookplates found on front paste-down: Thomas Cullen & Frederick Whiley Hilles. Both front and rear gutters split - binding mesh exposed. Frontispiece & tissue guard detached from binding. Toning throughout text-block. No known marginalia. Some instances of age-staining to plates. Binding is intact, but fragile at hinges. Manuscript letter exhibits toning, especially around edges. Bottom corner dog-eared. Please see photos and ask questions before purchasing. Chalres-Genviéve-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont or Charlotte-Geneviève-Louise-Augusta-Andréa-Timothéa d'Éon de Beaumont (1728-1810), usually known as Chevalier d'Éon or the Chevalière d'Éon (chevalière is the female equivalent of chevalier, meaning knight), was a French diplomat, spy, and soldier. She fought in the Seven Years' War, and spied for France while in Russia and England. D'Éon had androgynous physical characteristics and natural abilities as a mimic and a spy. She appeared publicly as a man and pursued masculine occupations for 49 years, although during that time, she successfully infiltrated the court of Empress Elizabeth of Russia by presenting as a woman. Starting in 1777, d'Éon lived asa woman and was officially recognized as a woman by King Louis XVI. After returning to England later in her life, she successfully petitioned the English courts to be legally recognized as a woman, which is seen as one of the earliest instances of legal recognition of a gender transition. Despite the fact that d'Éon habitually wore a dragoon's uniform, rumors circulated in London that d'Éon was actually a woman. A betting pool was started on the London Stock Exchange about d'Éons true sex. D'Éon herself was invited to join, but declined, saying that an examination would be dishonoring, whatever the result. After a year without progress, the wager was abandoned. Some modern scholars have interpreted d'Éon as transgender. Havelock Ellis jointed the "eonism" to describe similar cases of transgender behavior. The Beaumont Society, a long-standing organization for transgender people, is named after d'Éon. The manuscript letter written by the author discusses his confusion concerning d'Éons decision to not be examined by a surgeon during his life-time, as this would have cleared up any confusion, in the author's opinion. The letter also mentions the autopsy report by Thomas Copeland regarding Chevalier d'Éon. Amazing European history. Manuscript letter from author. Rare! RAREB1885ORTX - 12/23 - HK993 FORN-SHELF-0477-BB-2501-HKREV436. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers RAREB1885ORTX
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