Chevalier D'Eon Archive, Affirming Her Personal and Public Identity as a Woman

[LGBTQ][Transgender] Archive on 18th century transgender spy and politician the Chevalier D'Eon. Three items, including a clipped signature in D'Eon's hand (signed in her feminine title "Mlle. D'Eon), an original 18 century engraving of her portrait as a woman, an engraved view of D'Eon’s residence. A rare archive of ephemera relating to Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont (1728–1810), known as the Chevalier D'Eon, a French diplomat, soldier, spy, and gender nonconforming historical figure whose life has become foundational to both trans historiography and queer archival studies.

Archive includes: [1] Calling card (truncated) signed “Mlle. D’Eon.” Small ivory card stock signed in ink, using the feminized honorific “Mlle,” consistent with D'Eon’s legal recognition as a woman under Louis XVI beginning in 1777, [2] Portrait engraving titled “The Chevalier D’Eon.” Clipped from an unidentified illustrated newspaper. The image shows D'Eon in old age, presenting as female, wearing a ruffled cap and medal of the Order of Saint-Louis, the latter confirming D'Eon’s military rank, [3] Engraving of “The House of the Chevalier D’Eon at Tonnerre.” London: European Magazine, March 1, 1791. Engraved by W. Thomas, published by Sewell. Matted. Shows the front of D'Eon’s estate in Tonnerre, France. The engraving was published during D'Eon's final years in England, when D'Eon lived in reduced circumstances but remained a source of enduring intrigue. Exemplifies the sustained public fascination of English society in D'Eon's personal life.

Overall very good condition. This is a rare archive of materials relating to the life, gender identity, and cultural representation of one of the earliest publicly recognized gender-nonconforming figures in Western history. These materials reaffirm D'Eon's personal and public feminine identity, which has been called into speculation by some, showing that D'Eon both identified herself in writing and was presented in contemporary publications as a woman. (Inventory #: 22211)