Description:

(1769 - 1821) The "Little Corporal" whose brilliance in the field of battle and as Emperor of France has made him perhaps the most important figure of post-Renaissance Europe. Manuscript L.S., 1p. 4to., Paris, Jan. 16, 1811 to French Marshal LOUIS-ALEXANDRE BERTHIER (1753-1815). In part: "...your proposal for the first instruction to the Duke of Istria seems good to me. Send it to him together with my Decree...You can send Gen. [Jean] Lecamus to the Duke of Istria. Have him leave right away. The Duke of Istria is authorized to make any move he feels appropriate...for the good of my service. You will authorize him to write to the King of Spain [Joseph Bonaparte], the Duke of Dalmatia, General Suchet, General Drouet and the Prince of Essling to learn of their actions. You will let him know that he is to take command of the Corps of General Drouet...he must support and give assistance to the army of Portugal..." He signs "NP" at the conclusion in black ink. Fine condition, double matted with an image of Napoleon and a battle scene, set into a gilt frame. Lecamus had returned to Spain on January 15, 1811, as Chief of Staff of the Army of the North. The Duke of Istria, Jean-Baptiste Bessières, was sent back the same year. In 1811, he was sent back to Spain again to lead the Army of the North. He mostly fought counter-insurgency operations and proved a difficult and touchy colleague to his fellow army commanders, especially Marshal Masséna.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipments are sent via USPS Priority, USPS International Priority, DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

February 19, 2019 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 28% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

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 + $10,000