The 30 Minute Rule begins December 11 at 7:00 PM EST. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By December 11 at 6:00 PM EST To Participate After 6:00 PM EST
Scarce manuscript DS in Arabic and French, signed "Bonaparte," one page, 4 x 6.25, February 3, 1799. Financial document in Arabic writing, transcribed below in French (translated): "Note of what is due to the Molla of Cairo, according to his old regulations by the farmers of the Customs of Boulac, Damietta and Alexandria, for the present year 1213 of the Hegira. Paras 19500." At the bottom of the page is summary of the notes, 19500 and 31550, adding up to 51050 paras, annotated to the right: "The Molla begs the general in chief to be kind enough to have these two notes paid to him, which will put him in a position to make preparations for his trip." Napoleon signs in the lower right, "Bonaparte," below a manuscript endorsement: "Poussielgue will have these two notes settled," referring to financial administrator Jean-Baptiste-Étienne Poussielgue. In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, and repaired paper loss to the lower right corner tip.
This letter dates to Napoleon's campaign in Egypt and Syria, which he proclaimed to 'defend French trade interests' and to establish 'scientific enterprise' in the region. One of the campaign's enduring legacies was discovery of the Rosetta Stone on July 15, 1799, inspiring a burst of Egyptomania across Europe.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$200.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
