NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. A very fine L.S. `Napol´, a bold ink signature, one page, gilt edges, 4to, Fontainebleau, 25th September 1807, to Prince Eugene Beauharnais, in French. Napoleon gives once more very precise military orders, reorganizing the troops in Naples and stating `Mon fils, faites partir d´Ancone 12 ou 1500 hommes en plus des différents détachements qui s´y trouvent, appartenant aux troupes qui sont dans le Royaume de Naples. Ce détachement partira le 15 octobre pour se rendre à Naples. Le 1er Novembre, un pareil détachement des dépôts de l´armée de Naples partira pour se rendre à cette armée, de manière à renforcer les corps de trois à quatre mille hommes´ (Translation: "My son, send 1200 to 1,500 men from Ancona, in addition to the various detachments already there belonging to the troops stationed in the Kingdom of Naples. This detachment will leave on October 15th for Naples. On November 1st, a similar detachment from the depots of the Neapolitan army will leave to join that army, reinforcing its corps by three to four thousand men.") The present letter is in the hand of Napoleon´s secretary Baron de Meneval. With blank integral leaf. VG

Eugene de Beauharnais (1781-1824) French Prince, son of Josephine de Beauharnais and stepson of Napoleon. Viceroy of Italy 1805-14 and Grand Duke of Frankfurt. Napoleon considered him his adopted son, and used to address his letters to him as "my son". Historians consider him one of Napoleon´s most able relatives.

Claude François de Méneval (1778-1850) Baron of the Empire. Memoirist of the 19th century. Napoleon´s private secretary and his closest collaborator.