Two official announcements announcing the granting of equal rights to the Jews of France: a broadside announcing the granting of equal right to Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin and to the Jews of Avignon (Bordeaux, 1790); a bifolio announcing the granting of equal rights to all the Jews of France (Clermont-Ferrand, 1791). French.
In 1789, the National Constituent Assembly of France was established, setting the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. In January 1790, after long discussions and subsequent to the many requests submitted to the Assembly, it decided to grant equal rights and the status of active citizens to Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin and to the Jews of Avignon, who were economically, culturally and politically more involved with the Christian community, were less secluded and during the first centuries of their living in France even declared that they were New Christians. The Ashkenazic Jews of France, whose language was Yiddish and their Jewish identity much more prominent, remained discriminated against.
In September 1791, several days before the National Constituent Assembly was dissolved and the National Legislative Assembly established, a law was enacted eliminating all prior limitations, decrees and regulations and granting full equal rights to all the Jews of France. These were the first laws in Europe granting unconditional equal rights to Jews.
Before us are two items: a broadside announcing the first law granting equal right to Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin and to the Jews of Avignon and a bifolio announcing the granting of equal rights to all the Jews of France.
1. Lettres patentes du Roi, sur un décret de l'Assemblée nationale, portant que les Juifs, connus en France sous le nom de Juifs portugais, espagnols & avignonois, y jouiront des droits de citoyen actif ["Official order by the king… that all Jews known in France as Portuguese, Spanish or residents of Avignon will be given the status of active citizens"]. Bordeaux: Michel Racle, 1790.
In Bordeaux there existed a large and rich community of Jews whose forefathers were exiled from Spain and Portugal, and which called itself "The Portuguese Nation"; the community even sent representatives to the Malesherbes Committee which examined the situation of the Jews and to the National Constituent Assembly.
39X47.5 cm. Good condition. Fold lines and creases. Stains. Tear to upper right corner (restored with paper and tape). Holes. handwriting on verso.
2. Loi relative aux juifs, donée à Paris, le 13 Novembre 1791 ["Law pertaining to the Jews… Paris, November 13, 1791"]. Clermont-Ferrand: Delcros & Fils printing press, 1791.
[1] leaf folded in half (two printed pages), 24 cm. Good condition. Stains. Filing holes and small tears along edges. Two corners of the leaf were cut diagonally. Handwriting on the first page.