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Sainsbury, John
[Catalogue of a collection ... relating to the Emperor Napoleon. Supplement. 1836]
Supplement to the catalogue of a collection of works of art relating to the Emperor Napoleon. Containing also, anecdotes of Napoleon's conversations when at school, and copies of many of his letters previous to the year 1796; together with a portrait of him, never before published, and twelve fac similes from original letters and official documents in possession of the owner of the collection, - who, since the publication of his catalogue, has been able (owing to the decease of an eminent collector in Paris) to obtain several other objects connected with his former collection, which are here added to it.
London (Place), privately printed,, [1836].
[1], 60--90 p., [5] litho. pl. (port., facsims.) ; 26.9 cm. (4º)

The supplement to his Catalogue of a collection of cameos; marble busts; ... autograph letters of Napoleon and Josephine; manuscripts; prints; and books, relating to the Emperor Napoleon and his family, [1835] (q.v.), paginated consecutively to the original work, a printed copy of the which is in the Library together with a MS. letter to Soane dated 9th December 1835, offering him the collection for £6,000. The plates are facsimiles of Napoleon's handwriting from various documents and include a portrait of 'Napoleon First Consul. From an Original Drawing ... taken from the Life by J. Duplessi Bertaux at a Review in Paris on the Place-Carousel, in the Year 1800'. For an account of Sainsbury's 'Napoleon Museum' see R.D. Altick, The shows of London (Harvard: The Belknap Press, 1978), p. 252.

Copy Notes Inscribed in ink as an address on the lower endpaper: To J. Sainsbury Esqre. / a.c.c / 35 Red Lion Square; with ink postal stamps: T.P. Crawford St.; and, in a roundel the post mark T.Night No. 26 1835'. Accompanied by a folded ALs in ink, with black edge: 35 Red Lion Square / June 14th. 1836 / Mr Sainsbury begs very respectfully to offer / herewith, for Sir John Soane's acceptance, a / Copy of the Supplement to the Catalogue of His / Napoleon Collection, Mr Sainsbury having had / the honor to present a Copy of his Catalogue, only / to Sir John Soane some Months ago - It / is owing to an Accidental Circumstance / that Mr Sainsbury has been enabled, during / the last six months, to very much, enrich, his / former Collection, with a unique Collection / of Official Documents, containing the / Autograph Letters and signatures, of many / of the most Celebrated Public Characters / that // created so much Sensation in the Political / World from the year 1779 to 1815. Also a / unique Collection, of Gold orders, Gold and / Silver Coins, Medals &c. Since Mr Sainsbury / had the honor of an interview with Sir John / Soane, he has been visited with a great / Calamity in the Death of his Eldest Son, / who died at the College Bourbon at Paris - / This Melancholy event has so disarranged / his domestic circle, that he has determined to make arrangements for residing out / of Town, on account of Mrs. Sainsbury's / health, which has been very materially / impaired by the sad event. Consequently, / he has resolved, now, to offer his Collection for Sale in a more General way than formerly, / and he has had an intimation from the // The Duke of Wellington, a few days ago, that / his Grace does not feel disposed to purchase / it, Mr Sainsbury has the Honor to propose / the entire Collection, as described in / both, the original Catalogue, and the / Supplement, just published, for the / approval of Sir John Soane --. Soane was not to be drawn on this offer, however, perhaps because Sainsbury apparently wanted the collection to remain intact and be displayed according to his own arrangements. In November 1836 the pamphlet (but not, apparently, the original catalogue) was placed by Soane in the second of three sealed repositories containing correspondence, miscellaneous papers and objects, with directions that they should be opened on 22 November (the anniversary of his wife's death) in 1866, 1886 and 1896 respectively.

Binding Paper wrappers, secured by a red and green silk tie. In a cream paper envelope with remnant of a red seal, addressed in black ink to Sir John Soane ... and inscribed in red ink Supplement to Catalogue of Works / of art relating to the Emperor / Napoleon -.

Reference Number 711

Additional Names Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (1769--1821) - Memorabilia, Catalogs; Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (1769--1821) - Museums, relics, etc, Catalogs; Sainsbury, John


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