Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). A white damask linen napkin ...

Hammer

£480

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). A white damask linen napkin with crowned 'N': feint black ink stamp to one corner and inscribed in black ink 'Mr Copeland' and the number '2', 82 x 99cm., together with a small section of wall paper with manuscript inscription in black ink' From the room where The Emperor Louis Napoleon was confined at Helena', 4 x 11cm, together with one other damask linen napkin and a rubbing of Napoleon's crest reputedly taken from a silver box, inscribed 'Rubbing of Napoleon's crest on the silver provision box taken in Jan 1985, when it was left to Mrs Pauline Dover by J Alvis' *Notes- A manuscript letter accompanying these items states the following: 'This napkin was taken from Napoleon's coach after the Battle of Waterloo. Among other napkins it formed part of a picnic set which also consisted of a set of silver boxes of different sizes. The gentleman who bought the coach and its contents- (some such name as Bullock) presented my Great Grandfather Dr James Copeland FRS with one of these boxes and several napkins.The box is now in the possession of my brother....it is about six inches high, nine inches long and three to four inches wide with small handles at each end, the lid has Napoleon's Coat of Arms engraved on the top and is not hinged but lifts off completely. The coach and contents was eventually bought by Mme Tussauds and was on show in front of the figures portraying the French nobility. My aunt Mrs M S Burnett (nee Copeland) offered the box to complete the set sometime in the 20s but Mme Tussaud's said 'it would not encourage anymore visitors and refused it. In the fire of 1925 the coach was destroyed and only a shaft remains. Signed Michael Alvis' (no date). The envelope containing the section of wallpaper inscribed 'Wallpaper from the room in which The Emperor Louis Napoleon was confined on St. Helena. He died in May 1821 reputedly by arsenic poisoning contained in the wall paper. This fragment may have come from the same source as the two Napoleon napkins. These were part of a picnic set captured with his carriage after Waterloo. the picnic set was presented to Dr James Copeland by a friend, thought to be Mr Bullock. Dr James Copeland, great grandfather to Michael Alvis (1921-2001) handed to Mary Patricia Brooks (nee Alvis). *Provenance- By direct family descent.