Emir ABD-EL-KADER sends his thanks to France.

Abdelkader Ibn Muhieddine (1808-1883), the emir Abd-el-Kader

Autographed letter signed to Madame Achille Fould.

One and a half pages in quarto in Arabic, with French transcription.

Residual trace of a collector's stamp.

No place. 1st Ramazan 1284 [December 28, 1867]

"I will never forget the kindness, benevolence, and true affection you have always shown me."

Beautiful letter of greetings addressed to the wife of Napoleon III's minister.

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" Glory be to God, to the respectful and perfect, to her whose qualities are beautiful and whose actions are generous and noble, the respectable Madame Fould. Having inquired about your health, I offer you my New Year's greetings. I pray God grants you perpetual happiness and showers you with lasting blessings and riches that will never perish or change. Please convey my respectful congratulations to your entire noble family."

I will never forget the kindness, benevolence, and true affection you have always shown me, and I can assure you that I hold in my heart a complete reciprocity for all of this, which makes me desire, more than you could ever desire for yourself, that you be showered with blessings. I always think of you and picture your noble person, as well as those of your honorable daughters and generous sons-in-law. Receive all the congratulations of a friend and the greetings of a devoted one. The 1st of Ramadan 1284. Your devoted Abd-el-Kader.

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Emir Abd-el-Kader remains one of the most fascinating historical figures of the 19th century. A French fighter in Algeria, he was defeated by General Louis de Lamoricière after a long and courageous resistance. Imprisoned in Toulon, Pau, and then Amboise, the emir and his family were freed in 1852 by Napoleon III. Abd-el-Kader then went to Damascus, Syria, to dedicate himself once again to philosophy and theology. After his struggle against France, he was recognized as a friend and awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. He also received the Order of Pius IX.

In 1865, the emir made a notable visit to Paris, where he was received as a friend by the highest-ranking figures in the state. It was undoubtedly on this occasion that Abd-el-Kader became friends with Madame Achille Fould, née Henriette Goldschmidt (1803-1870).

Abd-el-Kader died in Damascus, where he was buried near his teacher, Ibn Arabi. A minor scholar from Algeria, Abd-el-Kader became a major figure in modern Islam. His courage, piety, wisdom, and intellect earned him universal admiration.