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Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832) was a champagne maker and merchant at Rheims (Reims), France, certainly from 1820 to 1832 given that original merchant letters to Nicolas-Henri Schreider exist for this period. He is already established by 1820 selling wine and champagne in northern Europe with repeated reorders from his network of agents and brokers. Therefore, he was undoubtedly learning his the trade and perfecting his skills in wine making since well before 1820, perhaps back as far as 1800. (Ref).

For the period before 1820, nothing is found in primary sources about Nicolas-Henri Schreider or how he learned his trade in making wine and champagne and selling it. By 1820 he is an expert, attested to by the large number of orders (and repeat orders) he receives by letter from agents and brokers located in the great cities of northern Europe. Neither is there any decline in the popularity of his product, even surpassing him in death, as the responsibility is taken up by his nephew and heir, Louis Roederer (1) with no fall-off in the orders steaming in. All this while Nicolas-Henri Schreider's estate is still in probate for another 2 years, to 1834. Unwittingly, Nicolas-Henri Schreider was laying the foundation for today's multinational House of Louis Roederer, the well known producer and merchant of "grand cru" wine and champagne at Rheims, France, since 1834; and since circa 1970, with the addition of their "western" vineyards in California, USA. (Ref).

Not surprisingly, in later years (1850 onward), his nephew, heir and successor, Louis Roederer (1) (1809-1870), honors his late Uncle Schreider with the "Schreider brand" of "Sillery mouseux" champagne, marketed as far away as California, USA, spurred on no doubt by the gold rush of 1848 that erupted in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. (Ref).

While many partners and family members helped out over the decades, here are the principle individuals in chronological order, responsible for establishing the House of Roederer as the world wide success it is today over, spanning 170 years from 1800 to 1970. The years to the present are covered elsewhere on Wikipedia:

1820-1832. Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832). (Ref).

1832-1870. Louis Roederer (1) (1809-1870). (Ref).

1860 (officially 1864) - circa 1970. Theophile Roederer Company (founding partners the brothers Gustave Bousigues aka “Bley of Rheims” (a musician and composer) and Leon Bousigues, and a friend, Theophile Roederer), becomes a sister company to Louis Roederer under “Groupe Roederer" circa 1912. (Ref).

1870-1880. Louis Roederer (2) (1845-1880). (Ref).

1880-1887. Louise Henriette Léonie Orly-ROEDERER (1839-1887). (Ref).

1887-1897. “Veuve” (widow) Louise Marie BOISSEAU-ROEDERER (b.?-d.1897). (Ref).

1897-1932. Léon Olry-ROEDERER 1869 - 1932. (Ref).

1932-1972. “Veuve” (widow) Camille Olry-Roederer. d. 1972. (Ref).

Six primary sources for reference material in support of Nicolas-Henri Schreider as the founding predecessor of the House of Louis Roederer are as follows, covered in more detail further on:. (Ref).

First there are genealogy records of births, marriages, and deaths available onlline. (Ref).

Secondly, several hundred original letters are in a private collection, dating from 1820 to 1879. More come on the open market from time to time. (Ref).

Thirdly, contemporaneous law reports published in France and other countries where the principles listed above conducted business, detail court cases the principles were involved, some decisions setting presidents in the jurisprudence of not just France but other countries, including the United Kingdom and America. (Ref).

Fourth. Contemporary law reports exist published in France and other countries listing trade-mark filings that give the wine and champagne names from the respective principles, with detailed measurement and design descriptions of the labels to go on the on bottles, once they are allowed into a country. Sometimes the alcohol and sugar content is measured and given with the filing. While some sugar is allowed, too much is considered and adulteration of the wine. These trade-mark reports also name the current head of the company (successor) making the filing. (Ref).

Fifth. There are enumerable advertisements in news papers and magazines for the principles' wines and champagnes, spanning the 120 years from from the 1850s to the 1970s. These also serve ans announcement to the public of the principles intent with the wines and champagne. Very often the adverts are in the form of a legal notice to beware of counterfeiters. (Ref).

Sixth. Invoices are a rich source of information about the how the principles fill orders and ship them for their agents and representatives to the ccstomers in the many countries business is conducted. (Ref).

The first source, genealogy record:

1780. Geoffroy ROEDERER (1780 -1822) id born at Strasbourg, France; father of Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870). (Ref.)

1808. Geoffroy ROEDERER (1780 -1822) marries at Strasbourg, France, Sophie SCHREIDER (b.?-1809), sister of Nicolas-Henri SCHREIDER (1783-1832). (Ref).

1809. Sophie SCHREIDER ROEDERER dies in childbirth giving birth to Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870). (Ref).

1815. Geoffroy ROEDERER (1780 -1822) enters second marriage at Strasbourg, France, with Godefroide Louise ERNST (b.?-d.?). (Ref).

1815. Charles Eugène ROEDERER (1815 -1876) is born at Strasbourg to Geoffroy ROEDERER (1780 -1822) and Godefroide Louise ERNST (b.?-d.?), and is therefor half-brother to Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870). In 1819 his siter is born, Sophie Adèle ROEDERER 1819 - ? aka, veuve GoLL. (Ref). Because of the "half-brother" status, the bloodline to inheritance of the House of Louis Roederer eventually settles through the Olry-Roederer line, not that of Charles Eugène ROEDERER (1815 -1876. (Ref).

1820. Four letters dated 1820 in the private collection mentioned below, are addressed to "Dubois père et fils negociant de vin a Reims", the going concern in the making of wine and champagne, under the control of Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832), evidenced by the letters. (Ref).

1822. Death at Strasbourg, France, of Geoffroy ROEDERER (1780 -1822), father of Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870) aged 13 years, and his half-brother, Charles Eugène ROEDERER (1815 -1876) aged 7 years. (Ref).

1827. Relocation from Strasbourg of Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870) aged 18, to Reims, France, taking up apprenticeship with his uncle on his late mother's side, in his wine and champagne business, "N. H. Schreider négociant en vins à Reims." (Ref).

1832. Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832) dies at Reims France. His assets are managed in probate, and therefore it is not till two years later, 1834, that his nephew Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870) aged 23, is awarded the business by the court. (See below). In the meantime young Louis runs the business, but what help he has is unclear, but help he must have had, perhaps a "cellar master", a title held by those individuals deemed experts in making wine and champagne. (Ref).

1838. Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870) age 29, marries on 27 March at Sedan, Louise Felicite BECHET se BALAN (1817 - 1854). (Ref).

1839. Louise Henriette Léonie ROEDERER (1839-1887) is born to Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870) and Louise Felicite BECHET se BALAN ROEDERER (1817 - 1854). Latter she becomes Louise Henriette Léonie Orly-ROEDERER with husband Jacques Olry (1833-1901), with whom she had a daughter daughter Félicie Jeanne Louise Marie Olry-Roederer (1864-1894). Eventually Louise Henriette Léonie Orly-ROEDERER (1839-1887)becomes head of the House of Louis Roederer from 1880 to 1887, upon the premature death of her brother, Louis ROEDERER (2) (1845-1880), who dies without issue. (Ref).

1845. Louis ROEDERER (2) (1845-1880) is born to Louis ROEDERER (1) (1809-1870) and Louise Felicite BECHET se BALAN ROEDERER (1817 - 1854). He becomes head of the House of Roederer upon the death of his father in 1870 until his own death 10 years later aged 35 year. (Ref).

The second source, several hundred original letters in a private collection: (Ref).

These letters date from 1820 to 1879. More of these letters continue to appear today on the open market. All the letters are from wine merchants originating in towns and cities located ever more distant from Rheims, France, as the chronology advances from 1820 to 1879 and greater success is attained. The letters are orders for wine and champagne with discussion of the trade and shipping routes. Some letters contain personal information between parties who have known each other for a long time. (Ref).

Four letters dated 1820 are addressed to "Dubois père et fils negociant de vin a Reims", establishing control of this going concern in the hands of Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832). Other than these four letters, there appears nowhere in contemporary publications, law reports, or histories on the champagne trade at Rheims, France, a reference to "Dubois père et fils negociant de vin a Reims." Their is a reference to a company of that name being founded at Reims in the 1776, aslo giving the names of the founding brothers, Dubois. But, perhaps the French Revolution intervened (1789 to 1798) and no more business was done - at least no more records appear. quite possibly after desolation of noble and clerical properties and vineyards around Rheims, Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832) acquired Dubois's building and wine making cellars under the grounds in Rheims. (Ref).

A larger number of letters dated 1820 to 1833 are addressed to "N. H. Schreider negociant de vin a Reims" and establish already a successful wine and champagne traded, far beyond the confines of Rheims. This mean he had the knowledge of making champagne and had been practicing the trade fro a long time. But, no letters addressed to "N. H. Schreider" beofre 1820 have yet surfaced. (Ref).

Interestingly, four letters dated 1832 to 1834 are addressed to both "N. H. Schreider" and "Louis Roederer", "negociant de vin a Reims". This implies that a transition is taking place,. And in fact, Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832)was already deseaced in 1832, his estate in probate until 1834 as discussed below. Several hundred letters dating from 1833 to 1879 are addressed to "Louis Roederer" most often with the appellation, "negociant de vin a Reims." (Ref).

The second source of primary information are contemporary law reports published in France and other countries where the principles conducted business, and in consequence found themselves in court at one time or another, either against each other, or against other parties, or against the local Government. (Ref).

1834. High court at Pris, France, during probate at Tribunal in Rheims, of the estate of Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832). The question is if estate taxes can be accesses on buildings and movable good located in foreign countries, held by a French citizen at the time of his death. The answer was in the negative, a landmark president adopted in the jurisprudence of other countries. (Ref).

1860. United States Customs vs. D & G Williams, Agents, Boston 1860(Louis Roederer's representatives in America). Tax fraud alleged by the government. (Ref).

1864. Louis Roederer (1) vs. Théophile Roederer. Trade mark infringement. The question was if two men with the same last name can trade in the same goods, wine and champagne in this case, under their own last names, or if one should give way to other on the grounds of who was established first. The out come was that men can trade under their own last names regardless, but some distinctions must appear on the labels of the goods, which in this case are the labels on bottles of wine and champagne, so that customers will not be confused. To this end, the most recent man established, must spell out his first name in full, together with the last name in the same same letters, so that in this case, the name reads, "Théophile Roederer." As to which man was first established in the business, the more recent of the two, must add to his first and last name spelled out in full, the date of his founding, in this case, "Théophile Roederer Maison fondée 1864." Another important point required by the court was that the location of where the wine and champagne in the bottle is made must apear on the the label, so that in this case the line must read, "Théophile Roederer Maison fondée en Reims, France". This landmark president set in the jurisprudence of France, was adopted adopted in the jurisprudence of other countries, including the UK and the USA. The significance of Théophile Roederer in to the ultimate success of the house of Louis Roederer, can not be over stated. Around 1912, 50 years later, the two power houses in the global champagne trade, joined as two separate companies under one holding company, "Groupe Reoderer". This came about between the two world wars when both companies were seeing their respective markets shrink. (Ref).

1890. Olry-Roederer vs. Arthur Roederer 1890, New York (trade-mark infringement). (Ref).

1898. The Crown, United Kingdom Inland revenue vs. C. Grainger, Agent, London 1898 (Roederer representative in the UK). (Ref).

1832. Olry-Roederer vs. ?? 1932 trade mark infringement). (Ref).

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===== The second source of reference material are contemporary reports published in France and other countries listing trade-mark filings. Besides naming the brands of wine and champagne being registered, the labels are minutely described in their design and wording. Also brought up to date, is who the current successor is heading the company. (Ref). --- For example, beginning in 1860 and 40 years later in 1898, in these trade-mark reports in France and many other countries, and in advertisements placed in California newspapers, appear the "Schreider brand" of champagnes by Louis Roederer. Details and drawings are given of the labels on bottles offered for sale. The lettering reads, "N. H. Schreider, Reims, Sillery masseux, Premiere Qulite". The House of Louis Roederer honored and acknowledged the debt owed their founding ancestor, Nicolas-Henri Schreider (1783-1832). (Ref).

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===== A fifth primary source of reference material are the enumerable advertisements and articles in news papers and magazines announcing the principles' wines and champagnes since the 1850s in France and many countries. (Ref).

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===== A sixth primary source of material are the invoices for deliveries of orders accepted and filled by the principles for their agents and representatives in the countries where they did business. These invoices span a hundred and fifty years, 1820 to 1970. In the early decades before the advent of postage stamps, these invoices were often part of the text in letters sent to the champagne makers by their agents and brokers. These were single pages folded in a special way, and sealed with red wax on the back where fold come together. Later invoices became more formal printed on separate sheets included with letters. Almost always when a local government brings a case against a champagne maker in matters of taxation, invoices and the wording used on them by the defendants, are entered into evidence. (Ref).

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===== After the 1950s, Théophile Roederer company, a sister company with Louis Roederer under the "Groupe Roederer", disappears from the market place. Later, Louis Roederer brings out an honorary brand simply named, "Théophile ", recognizing the invaluable contribution "Théophile Roederer Maison fondée en Reims, France" has made to the their success. (Ref).