Maxim’s, citadel of Parisian chic for more than a century. Michelin three star. Kitchen brigade of 24 chefs. A wine cellar with more than 120,000 worthies. And a small orchestra to entertain. The real theater, however, took place in la grande salle where even kings jockeyed for position. From Table 16, the Duchess of Windsor could see le tout Paris.

Monsieur Albert, the maitre d’hotel presided over this delicate balance of power for more than three decades. Only natural for him to keep a few mementos.

Next, Madame Albert treasured them.

Now I possess this small cache of important menus from the 1950s.