President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire (1808–1873). Original sepia 2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite photo of Napoleon III, Empress Eugenie, and the Prince Imperial, by court photographer Sergei Levitsky, and so labeled along the bottom. Signed in the lower border in black ink, “Napoleon.” Pencil notation on reverse, most likely in the hand of Dr. Thomas W. Evans, reads, “Given by the Emperor before our departure for America, August 10th [18]64.” A few light dings and creases to image, as well as a bit of mild foxing to borders, otherwise fine condition.
During the early stages of the Civil War, Napoleon III gave serious consideration to recognizing the legitimacy of the Confederacy—something the United States cautioned would be considered an act of war. Nevertheless, he met unofficially with Confederate diplomats, raising their hopes that he would unilaterally recognize the Rebel government. The emperor, however, could do little without the support of Britain, which refused to endorsed his plan. Enter Evans—an American who served as Napoleon’s Court Dentist as well as dentist to the Imperial family. His “departure for America” was at Napoleon’s request. Following the Battle of the Wilderness and General Ulysses S. Grant’s inability to capture the capital of Richmond, the French leader ordered Evans to investigate the South’s chances of eventual victory. In his memoirs, Evans noted that he met with Lincoln and Grant—and returned to France to tell the Emperor the Confederacy was doomed. RRAuction COA.
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