Franz Funck-brentano. 1903. Les Lettres De Cachet à Paris

Everything and anything is said about lettres de cachet, because this legal practice of the ancien régime has been greatly distorted by revolutionary propaganda.
As a tool of absolutism, yes, but only in a tiny minority of well-documented cases.
We're all familiar with the imprisonment of Voltaire or other great writers
In fact, imprisonment was frequently requested by private individuals to put an end to a private disturbance (a bad neighbor or a cuckoldry affair that was too visible, or a son who was too profligate with his money) or to put an end to poorly integrated social behavior (prostitution). All of this made up 99% of the cases in which this administrative measure was applied, as the ancien régime didn't know prison as a punishment or judicial penal sanction, but simply as a conservatory measure.
Frantz Funck- Brentano (1862 - 1947), a graduate of the École des Chartes, archivist and curator of the Arsenal library, has put an end to the old rumors spread for centuries by revolutionaries, by carrying out a scientific census of Bastille prisoners from 1649 to 1789.
This fascinating publication, sponsored by the City of Paris, is enhanced by reproductions of lettres de cachet and engravings.
At the time, he was also a successful writer of popular books on the burning issues of ancient history.
Beautiful in folio, LIII pages of studies written by the author, 482 pages ( list of prisoners, and various tables) .
Original green hardback in good condition ( some slight crushing at the headpieces ).
An astonishing and fascinating document.