Manuscript DS in French, signed “Buonaparte,” one page, 8.5 x 13.5, no date but circa 1796. Untranslated official missive written by Captain Chauvin, commander of the first battalion–second brigade of the General Department of Police, and addressed to Napoleon as General in Chief of the Army of the Interior. In the letter, Chauvin reminds Napoleon of a recent order he made dismissing a Captain Michel. One officer was named to replace Michel, which consequently resulted in a need for a new lieutenant. Despite Chauvin’s battalion chief having already made a suggestion, Chauvin bequeaths to Napoleon to name a different lieutenant. Signed in the upper left by Napoleon, [translated]: “Sent to the chief of staff, General in Chief, Buonaparte.” Triple-matted and framed to an overall size of 15.25 x 20.5. In fine condition, with light show-through from writing on the reverse. As a reward for repelling a royalist insurgency against the Parisian National Convention, Napoleon was appointed as Commander of the Army of the Interior in October 1795. With his newfound fame he was transferred to the Army of Italy soon after in February 1796, and married Josephine de Beauharnais a month later. Research reveals that it was around this period that Napoleon began signing his name ‘Bonaparte’ instead of the form signed here. An outstanding, bold example of Napoleon’s seldom-seen surname. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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