On 26 September, 1885, Tinco Lycklama à Nijeholt is at Beetsterzwaag (NL) – the town where he was born and raised. Tinco drafts his “last wish” in the presence of notary Jan Frederik Ninaber, from Heerenveen (NL). This testament concerns essentially his wife Juliana Agatha Jacoba thoe Schwartzenberg en Hohenlansberg, as well as the city of Cannes (F). This happens ten years after his marriage, and fifteen years before his death. As we will see, the document ends up with notary M.A.J. Verkouteren, successor to notary Ninaber at Heerenveen.

In the event of Tinco’s death, the “last wish” makes provisions for his movable and immovable properties, as well as for a collection of seven Qajar paintings and his library.

In the following documents (residing in the collection of the Archives Municipales de Cannes), we see the trail of the document. Shortly after Tinco’s death (which occurred 7 December 1900, at his villa in Cannes), notary Verkouteren informs the city of Cannes of the existence of this last will, and inquires whether the city requests a copy. This inquiry is in Dutch, and (in the margin of the document) an assistant to the mayor instructs M. Bernard, Vice-Consul of The Netherlands, to provide an official translation. Next, Vice-Consul Bernard obliges and provides us with the French version of Verkouteren’s letter. On 31 December 1900, notary Verkouteren delivers a certified extract of Tinco’s “last wish”. After reception in Cannes, this document is translated into French by Vice-Consul Bernard.

Hereunder, we provide images of these documents. At the bottom, we provide our own (uncertified) English translation of the will.

Letter of notary Verkouteren to the city of Cannes…

(The note in French in the margin is by an assistant to the mayor of Cannes, instructing Vice-Consul Bernard to provide a certified translation)

Traduction de la lettre du notaire Verkouteren addressée à la mairie de Cannes…

Extract of the olographic “Last Wish” of Tinco Lycklama à Nijeholt (in Dutch, see translation below)…

Traduction des “Dernières volontés” olographiques de Tinco Lycklama à Nijeholt (traduction certifiée par le vice-consul des Pays-Bas à Cannes, M. Bernard…

Translation of the extract of Tinco Lycklama’s “Last Wish”…

[Page I]

Extract

Olographic Last Wish

of Esquire Tinco Martinus Lycklama à Nijeholt, deceased at Cannes on 7 December 1900.

d.d. 28 September 1885

Office of notary M.A.J. Verkouteren at Heerenveen

I

[Page 2]

This is my final wish.

I recall all previous testaments made by me.

I, etcetera,

I leave the usufruct of my movable and immovable properties to my spouse lady Juliana Agatha Jacoba Lycklama à Nijeholt, born Baroness thoe Schwartzenberg en Hohenlansberg, for the remainder of her life, with dispensation of the obligation to deposit a guarantee, and such until remarriage.

I, etcetera,

I donate my seven Persian paintings, representing two Persian princesses, daughters of King Abbas the Great, a Persian prince from the house of Fath-Ali-Chah, and four views from the gardens of the Tsharbagh at Isfahan, to the Lycklama museum, belonging to the city of Cannes.

I also donate to the city of Cannes my library, all books, plates and beautiful editions, except for some books that my spouse may wish to keep in her possession.

All, etcetera,

[Page 3]

I donate to private possession, free of succession rights, to my spouse all copies of my book Voyage en Russie, au Caucase, en Perse, etc. par T.M. Chev. Lycklama à Nijeholt, which are still in my library in Cannes. I, etcetera,

Beetsterzwaag twenty six Sept. 1885.

————-T.M. Lycklama à Nijeholt.————–

The Receiver of Registration of Berlekom

Heerenveen 13 December 1900.

Registered at Heerenveen thirteen December nineteen hundred, volume 16 folio 24 verso section 6. Two pages no claim. Received as rights three guilders sixty cents.

The Receiver of Berlekom.

Delivered as literally corresponding extract, thirty first of December nineteen hundred, at the request of the city of Cannes – of the olographic final wish of Esquire Tinco Martinus Lycklama à Nijeholt (deceased at Cannes on seventh December nineteen hundred) deposited

[Page 4]

with the notary Jan Frederik Ninaber, established at Heerenveen, as evidenced by the record of deposition of twenty eight September eighteen hundred eighty five – by me, Marius Adrianus Johannes Verkouteren, notary at Heerenveen, successor to previously named notary Jan Frederik Ninaber and keeper of his original records.

[signed Verkouteren]

[stamped Verkouteren and Archives de la Ville de Cannes)