77 B a u m a n R a r e B o o k s Letter Patent Signed By Napoleon In 1812 98. NAPOLEON. Document signed. Paris, December 30, 1812. One vellum leaf measuring 17 by 22-1/2 inches, printed on the recto and finished by hand; handsomely framed. $8500. Large letter patent boldly signed by Napoleon (“Np”) in 1812 renewing themilitary appointment of Provençal soldier Jean-Joseph Dejoannier, assigned to Jerome Bonaparte, King of Westphalia’s army. This document, issued on December 30, 1812 at the Tuileries Palace in Paris, states that Jean-Joseph Dejoannier, a 42-year old Postal Director of the Army of the King of Westphalia, born in Nice, may remain in that position. Napoleon signed this document in the aftermath of his humiliating retreat from Moscow. Costly battles, sickness, starvation, and extreme cold had reduced his principal fighting force to 45% of its original number. Just two weeks after authorizing this military appointment, on January 11, 1813, the French Senate would approve the mobilization of 350,000 French troops. Cosigned by Claude Ambroise Régnier, Duke of Massa as the Minister of Justice, and by the Interim Secretary of State Jean-Baptiste de Nompere, Duke de Cadore. Text in French. Document near-fine, with light expected folds, a few slightly darkened edges, and one manuscript line slightly rubbed, likely due to a contemporary correction. Napoleon’s signature bold. Three Classic Napoleonic Sources: Hazlitt, Bourrienne And Junot 99. HAZLITT, William. The Life of Napoleon. WITH: BOURRIENNE, Louis Antoine Fauvelet. Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte. WITH: JUNOT. Memoirs of Madame Junot. Duchesse D’Abrantes. WITH: ANONYMOUS. Napoleon Intime. London, circa 1905. Together, seventeen volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter red morocco gilt. $6000. Limited “Imperial Editionde Luxe,” one of 1000 sets, with hand-colored frontispiece engravings and numerous copperplate engraved portraits throughout. This beautifully illustrated collection contains three of the great works related to Napoleon: Hazlitt’s Life, Bourrienne’s Memoirs and Madame Junot’s Memoirs, along with the anonymous (and privately published) Napoleon Intime. Fine condition.
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