Invoice from Vilmorin-Andrieux et Cie, Paris, for seed supplies to the Count of Andigné 1844

This invoice from Vilmorin-Andrieux et Cie, a Parisian seed supplier, for the Count of Andigné, is a delicate dance of script on paper. Its visual structure offers a glimpse into 19th-century commerce. Observe how the text is organized. The letterhead confidently announces the company's name, followed by precise, handwritten details of the transaction. Ruled lines structure the information, creating a grid-like order that juxtaposes organic script with rigid form. The contrast destabilizes the fixity of the financial information. The invoice is a semiotic system, where each stroke and flourish is a sign. The elegant script signifies not just the cost of goods, but also communicates ideas of trustworthiness and refinement to its aristocratic client. It elevates a mundane transaction into an aesthetic experience.