Description:

JOSEPH-NAPOLEON BONAPARTE'S CAPTURED FORAGE CAP TOP
JOSEPH-NAPOLEON BONAPARTE (1768 – 1844) French statesman, lawyer, diplomat and older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. During the Napoleonic Wars, the latter made him King of Naples (1806–1808), and then King of Spain (1808–1813). After the fall of Napoleon, Joseph styled himself Comte de Survilliers and emigrated to the United States, where he settled near Philadelphia. A wonderful military relic, the ornately decorated circular top of Bonaparte's kepi, taken as a war prize by a victorious British soldier following the British victory over the French at Vittoria. The 7.5 in. wide disc is comprised of a green satin velour fabris intricately embroidered in silver wire with a design displaying a wreath of leaves and berries, with a symmetrical flower at the center. On the verso, the white cloth upon which the embroidery was undertaken is inscribed, presumably by its captor: 'Joseph's forage cap. Taken at the Vittoria in Spain, June 21st, 1813 by Major Stretton, 40 Regt.' This relic is accompanied by a T.L.S. on the letterhead of the Soth Lancashire Regiment Regimental Museum, 1p. 8vo., 'Peninsula Barracks Warrington', Jan. 9, 1962, from L. H. Corry referencing 'Colonel SEMPRONIUS STRETTON 40th Foot. The letter sets forth details about Stretton's service, confirming that he served with the 40th in the Peninsula from 1812 to 1814 without a break, and that the regiment was at Vitoria. He also sets forth Stretton's military history thereafter, including service at Waterloo. He further notes: '...I am most interested in (and flagrantly covet) Joseph's forage cap. I would like to say definitely that the 'winner' of same was Sempronius..' With a ca. 1960 cardboard folder with ties in which the kepi top was stored. A superb relic, probably taken from Joseph's camp. At the Battle of Vitoria (21 June 1813) a British, Portuguese, and Spanish army under Wellington broke the French army under King Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan near Vitoria in Spain, eventually leading to victory in the Peninsular War. Joseph abdicated the Spanish throne and returned to France after the main French forces were defeated.

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January 26, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000