1863 Letter from Post-Revolutionary French Insurance Society to a Notary in Eperay

On offer is an excellent example of the administrative process in the operations of the French national insurance and pension scheme of mid-19th century France.

The handwritten letter was sent by the ADMINISTRATION DE LA PREVOYANCE to a “Monsieur Boban, Notaire a Eperay (Marne)”. In fact, this was Leon Boban, a Notary who practised in the city of Eperay, France. Our informal research has not revealed any additional information about him. 

At the time of this letter’s writing, the French Revolution had replaced the notions of mutual assistance and support that was a function of communities or associations to one based on the nation-state. Society was to be governed by the three great principles of the Revolution: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity). At least, this was the theory. In practice little was done by the state. Private societies had long existed, catering to small groups of mostly middle class families who sought death and burial insurance. Over time though, this began to change, especially after the introduction of state pensions by Otto Von Bismarck. Fraternal benefit or mutual aide societies emerged and were given legal recognition in the 1830’s. The ADMINISTRATION DE LA PREVOYANCE was one such  organization. 

This letter was written as a response to Mr. Boban’s earlier inquiry on behalf of clients Monsier and Madam Pansin.

Independament des leurs quittances, tant de 1857 que des dernies [ ] qu'il nous ont remiser nous devez posseder aussi leur polices, puis qi'il est etabli qu'ils n'ont pas plus recu leur repartition pas provisions que le dividende final...

[Translation: Independently of their receipts, both from 1857 and from the last [ ] that they have remitted to us, we must also have their policies, since it is established that they have not received their distribution by provisions other than the final dividend…]. 

The letter goes on to identify other administrative points that need to be addressed. The development of the modern-day welfare state with a comprehensive social safety net is rooted in these insurance organizations.

For a social historian or collector of documents pertaining to the early insurance industry, this is an excellent example of that business at work. It would make a fine addition to a collection of such documents.

The document is a letter, measuring 10.5 inches by 8.5 inches. The letter is on letterhead and is in good condition. The handwriting is legible. The reverse of the page serves, once folded, as the envelope.