38-42, Avenue Friedland, Paris, France

Laura-Thérèse von Rothschild (1847-1931) was the fourth daughter of Mayer Carl and Louise of Frankfurt, in which city she was born. She married her French cousin James Edouard (1844-1881) on 11 October 1871. In Paris, the family lived on the Avenue Friedland, located in the extension of Boulevard Haussmann. It was named in commemoration of the Battle of Friedland, a victory won by Napoleon I against Russia in 1807.

Thérèse was a pious, orthodox woman, who never became Parisian. She inherited some of her father's magnificent collection of silver, which she housed in the Avenue Friedland. James Edouard died at 38 Avenue Friedland in 1881, and Thérèse inherited her bibliophile husband's collection of rare books, bindings and manuscripts, seen in this photograph of the Library. Under the influence of the scholar Émile Picot, she added to the collection, and authorised the publication of a detailed catalogue, and facsimiles of certain works. Her son Henri, born at 38 Avenue Friedland later bequeathed this exceptional collection to the National Library of France.

The family is known to have spent comparatively little time at the property, spending their summers at the Chalet des Oyats, Berck-Plage and also at their country estate, Château des Fontaines, Gouvieux-Chantilly. In 1910, Thérèse is believed to have moved to No. 42 Avenue Friedland, and No. 38 was occupied by the Comtesse de Puyfontaine. The properties were demolished in the twentieth century and replaced with an office block.