Beschreibung:

NAPOLEON I EARLY LETTER SIGNED ("BUONAPARTE"), AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY OF THE INTERIOR, TO THE MINISTER OF WAR in French, asking that Marmont be promoted to "chef de batallion d'artillerie" and made Napoleon's aide-de-camp in place of Songis, who has been appointed to the Comité Central d'Artillerie, and commending Marmont's services in Italy and Germany, 1 page, 4to, printed stationery with vignette ("Armée de l'Intérieur") Paris, 19 nivôse an 4, [9 January 1796] The rare early Italian form of Napoleon's signature. Auguste Marmont (1774-1853) was one of Napoleon's trusted commanders who became Duke of Ragusa in 1808 and a Marshal of France in 1809. In 1814 he became notorious in France for surrendering Paris, having contacted the Allies and reaching a secret agreement with them to halt the war. The Minister of War at this time, presumably the addressee, was J.-B. Aubert du Bayet (1759-1797). This letter is not in the Correspondance de Napoléon Ier. The last letter included there in which Napoleon uses his original Italian name "[Napoleone di] Buonaparte" is letter no.85 of 11 March 1796. Shortly after his marriage to Joséphine on 9 March, he began to sign himself as a Frenchman: "Bonaparte". PROVENANCE:Sotheby's, 21 May 1998, lot 85 (formerly in the De Coppett collection). To view shipping calculator, please hereCondition ReportNo significant condition issues have been noted with this lot, but if you require further condition information please contact bookslondon@sothebys.com The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The