NAPOLEON III: (1808-1873) Emperor of the French 1852-70, the nephew and heir of Napoleon I. First President of France 1848-52, therefore holding the distinction of being the first titular president and the last monarch of France. A.L.S., Napoleon Louis B, one page, 8vo, n.p. (London), n.d. ('Samedi', c. Autumn/Winter of 1846), to Mrs [Mary Georgina] Damer, on mourning stationery (following the death of his father, King Louis, on 25th July 1846) . Napoleon III states ´I was very sorry that I could not visit you yesterday night to pay you my respects. I think that you will have guessed what the people would have concluded about a dinner', adding that he would prefer to suffer indigestion himself, rather than at the hand of newspapers ('J'aurais prefere une indigestion a une nouvelle aussi indigeste') Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Napoleon. Some extremely minor age wear, VG. €375-500

Lady Mary Georgina Damer (d.1848) Daughter of the Marquis of Hertford. In the present letter Napoleon makes reference to several slanderous articles published in France accusing him of not keeping to his word and travelling to the United States to live there permanently in exile. The indignant Prince was to later reply to the author of the articles in an open letter refuting all the accusations.Napoleon III had escaped from the prison of Fort de Ham on the 25th May 1846 and based himself in London. Since his evasion the Prince was living in London. The mourning paper was due to his father´s death, the King Louis, the 25th July 1846.