[Illustrated Manuscript]: "Andriamena / à Madagascar / Souvenirs d'un soldat d'avant-garde (1895)" [Memoir of a French Soldier during the Second Franco-Hova War]

(Madagascar, 1903. Hardcover. Near Fine. Bound manuscript. Large octavo. ff. [1 (title)], 1-175 + 97 inserted sheets with mounted photographs, maps, and one pen and ink drawing. The original manuscript of Captain Charon's memoir (published in 1906) of the second French military expedition into Madagascar that ended with the capture of Antananarivo, the capital city, in September 1895, and the establishment of a French protectorate over the entire island. The manuscript consists of a title page, 175 typescript sheets (printed rectos only) with manuscript emendations in ink and colored pencil, and 97 inserted sheets each with one or two mounted photographs per page with typed captions (a total of 111 photographs). Also included are three additional photographs of the author: one laid-in, and two mounted in the text as vignettes. Also laid-in are two contemporary autograph letters and a single autograph card addressed to Charon. The manuscript is bound in contemporary blue cloth and marbled paper over boards, marbled endpapers. Housed in a signed olive green morocco chemise with inset snakeskin panels on both sides (signed by the binder: "Petitbled, Rouen") with olive green morocco slipcase with the initials "A. C." stamped in gold on the outside corner. Some fading and oxidation to about 40 photographs, modest scuffing to the edges and corners of the slipcase, else overall near fine or better.

An historically important manuscript documenting Charon's wartime experiences serving as a veterinary physician in a special unit (il appartenait à l'avant-garde) with the 15th Corps under the command of General Metzinger during the Second Franco-Hova War. Both Britain and France had sought to seize control over the island of Madagascar, which was rich in resources and strategically important as a sea passage to India. The ruling Merina Kingdom of Madagascar was able to repel several French incursions on coastal cities. However, after the death of Queen Ranavalona I the French were able to negotiate concessions (The Lambert Charter) which provided the eventual pretext for France's first invasion in 1883 (The First Franco-Hova War), followed by a second invasion in 1895 to bring it into the French colonial empire. The manuscript consists of 20 chapters: beginning with Charon's departure from Algeria and passage through the Suez Canal to the port city of Majunga on the West Coast of Madagascar, arriving 7 March 1895. The bulk of the memoir provides a detailed account of Charon's inland march with General Duchesne's French infantry from Majunga to Antananarivo.

The photographs include images taken at the beginning of Charon's departure from Algeria (La rade de Philippeville) and numerous images of all of the principle stages of the expedition, including soldiers on the move through the bush, crossing rivers and plains; skirmishes against the Hova (a class within the Merina social structure) and Malagasy sharpshooters; soldiers performing chores at various camps; the routing of equipment and food on barges and convoys, the burial of an officer; repatriation of the sick; the interrogation of a prisoner; etc. Also included are photos of maps of the area traversed, a few images of Charon, and several images in and around Antananarivo (presumably taken after the successful French assault in the last week of September): including the palace of the Prime Minister and the Queen, images of Malagasy peoples, neighborhoods and streets of the capital. Charon's main account ends in 1896, upon the arrival of the new Resident General of France. Appended at the back is an index of principal Malagasy words. After the conquest, Charon himself appears to have been transferred to Toamasina [Tamatave] on the east coast.

Laid-in is a formal ALS: "Note de Service" signed by Captain Redier of the 15th corps d'armée (dated February 8, 1895); a second ALS signed by Commander Pillard regarding Charon's passage on a steamer to Madagascar (March 3, 1895); and an autograph business card from (Philippe) "Le Duc d'Orléans" to Mr. Paul Charon, of the veterinary staff of the 34th Artillery in Angouleme (dated Brussels, February 15, 1914), thanking him for sending his book on Madagascar.

A remarkable, eyewitness account of the second French military intervention in Madagascar that overthrew the ruling monarchy of the Merina Kingdom, and of the establishment of the French Protectorate. The original annotated manuscript (dated "1895-1898" on the spine and "1903" on the title page), precedes the published book by three years.