April 2025 Auction Ends Thursday, April 24th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2025
Extremely rare cabinet card signed by Georges Picquart, dated January 1900 shortly after he was released from prison. Picquart was one of the heroes of the Dreyfus Affair who put his own life and career at risk to expose evidence that ultimately exonerated Alfred Dreyfus, wrongly convicted of treason in 1894 for spying for Germany. As Chief of the French Army's Counterintelligence Division, Lt. Col. Picquart discovered that the note used to convict Dreyfus was forged by Lt. Col. Hubert-Joseph Henry to implicate Dreyfus and that the real spy was Major Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy.
Despite internal pressure and corruption, Picquart refused to abet in the cover-up and was himself tried twice and convicted by court marshal of forging the evidence, forced to resign, and imprisoned for 11 months. After the cover-up was exposed, however, he was reinstated and promoted to Brigadier General. The scandal was so polarizing that it threatened the political career of French President Felix Faure, and is widely believed to stem from anti-semitism as Dreyfus was Jewish. A Catholic, Picquart was seen as betraying his fellow brethren by supporting Dreyfus.
Cabinet card measures 4.25'' x 6.5'' on Aaron Gerschel's photographer's mount. Signed ''G. Picquart'' and dated 28 January 1900, inscribed ''a Mll. Ginette Risler''. Near fine condition.
Georges Picquart Signed Cabinet Card from 1900 -- As Chief of French Army Counterintelligence, Picquart Put His Own Career at Risk to Exonerate Alfred Dreyfus, Wrongfully Accused of Spying for Germany
Click above for larger image.