Monsieur Auguste Lef... continuation, part II (and windup)
Could this possibly be the guy in question? In;
Dossier de proposition pour la Légion d'honneur (1865-1930) - Lettres H & M – LH/3227 à 3244, we find the following guy:
LEFEVRE (Auguste)
sculpteur et naturaliste à Dieppe (Seine-Infèrieure)
Grade demandé: chevalier, date(s) du dossier: 1894
LH/3235, 4 pièces
The same name is also listed on p. 101, as: "artisan". [Which I assume is
Artisan, as in French for Craftsman? Alt. as in
Artisan d'Art (Art Craftsman), a craftsman of Art/the Arts?]
In my mind any, "
sculpteur et naturaliste" (sculptor and naturalist), or even "
Naturaliste Préparateur" (as he's also been called), would (or could) fit a person titled either Artist (
Artiste, alt.
Artisan/
Artisan d'Art), or taxidermist ... or wouldn't, couldn't it? Regardless if the same person also was collecting eggs (as an Oologist), of course.
Also note that we're
not dealing with two (possibly different?) locations, as I first read it; one "Dieppe (Seine-Maritime)", and another: "Dieppe (Seine-Infèrieure)", as I suspected (and somewhat feared). Nope, it's apparently the same town, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, in Normandy, France (prior to 1955, in
Seine-Inférieure).
Thereby, it might be worth checking the
Leonore database (
here, or
here) ...
?
Another (fairly recent) Paper/book that
could be worth looking into (for anyone who can read French, of course) is:
•
Les sciences naturelles à Rouen au XIXe siècle (
Muséographie, vulgarisation et réseaux scientifiques), by Bénédicte Percheron, Éditions Matériologiques (2017). At least
Chapitre 1 [Chapter 1; pp.167–245, as of
here], titled; "
Le cabinet d’histoire naturelle de Rouen (1835-1872)", seems to include something regarding what I think is, or at least could be, "our guy" ...
?
Another piece that might be worth checking (?) is:
•
La bijouterie francaise au XIXe siecle (1800-1900). III. La troisieme republique, from 1908 (
here), with several (many, many different)
Messieurs Lefebvre mentioned. If anyone of those could fit "our guy" is way off my understanding [though probably not, if about "
bijouterie" (jewellery, or nipper-trinkets)].
Also take a look at the following two links,
here and
here (simply to find out if it's him, or not?). From what little I can tell it could be either way ...
The main thing, that still bugs me, is the particular spelling
Lefevbre (without accent, and even more; with the b incorporated), as this seems to be the least (far lesser) used spelling, in various contexts of what we know is "our guy" (or, in some cases, where we only suspect it's him). In most (all?) of those cases he's either; Auguste Lefèvre, or simply ditto Lefevre (for examples; see
attached excerpts, from the documents in the links of post #1, and #4, or in the links above, in this post). The single, odd one out seems to be the Death Record/certificate itself, where the name clearly was written as: "
Auguste Lefebvre".
I sure hope that
messieurs Gouraud and Chevrier managed to follow him all the way from Paris to Dieppe, and while doing so that they were able to exclude all, and any, other guys by the same surname ...
On top of this Christophe Gouraud informed me, that in the Baillon collection they have quite a few specimens (29 in numbers), all attributed to this certain guy, and on some of the specimen labels, his surname is/was written (possibly by himself?) ... in both ways ...
!?! A small, but disturbing fact that certainly doesn't make it any easier to decide on which version of his surname, that is (or could be, alt. would be considered as) the most proper way to write it.
Equally noteworthy, is that Christophe Gouraud himself, also made the following short remark: "I am actually fine if Lefèvre is preferred".
Thus, and thereby; take your pick!
The rest of it all, sorting out this "mess", I gladly leave in more capable (French) hands. Hopefully my lingering uncertainty, and irresolute hesitation, could be easily erased.
Either way, as usual, don't hesitate to remark on any of what's written above, whatever small or large. Like I said/wrote above, it's all a bit vague to me (slightly fumbling in the dark)! Any additional information (even contradictory) would be warmly welcomed! I'll do my best to reply (if I find it possible/useful).
Well, that's it, that's all (this is as far as I can reach). A lot of writing (and a lot of fuss) about a little-known (somewhat local) figure, a guy in the margins of European (French) Ornithological History [of even less relevance (read: none) in today's Nomenclature] ... thus, take it all, for what it's worth. And please, don't quote, nor trust, or refer to me (on this certain one). In this particular case, at least in parts (or even most of it), I've just been thinking out loud.
Good luck figuring it out ... and hopefully; solving it all.
In any case; enjoy!
Björn
PS. And, guys, if anyone feel up to it, maybe thinking of giving it another go (that is; as in if, in searching for him, on the "net",); remember that
Lefèvre (alt.
Lefevre, as well as
Lefebvre), is a very common name in France (also written
Le Fevre), with a multitude of various, different persons, equally in (more or less) close connection to Natural History (either as Traders of
Naturalia, or as Taxonomists, alt. as pure Naturalists). In an all Non-Natural History context they are numerous!
The Surname/Family name itself means; Smith (as in Blacksmith), and it's just about as common as the Family/Surname 'Smith' would be, if searched for, in an English context.
Now, finally, I'm done. On my part;
Lefevri ... over and out!
—The End —
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