December 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 18th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/18/2012
Circular issued by the French Council of War announcing Napoleon's aide de camp Henri Gatien Bertrand's condemnation to death. The 1816 French-language text translates in part: ''...convicted, of one count of being a weapon against France, three counts of having cooperated in an attack designed to destroy the government...Bertrand was the first among the French who accompanied Bonaparte in his enterprise against France...the Board condemns Bertrand to the SENTENCE OF DEATH in the compliance section 75 and 87 of the Criminal Code...'' Bertrand was in St. Helena with Napoleon at the time this sentence was issued and evaded his prescribed fate. The sentence was eventually overturned by Louis XVIII. Printed by C.F. Patris, the exclusive printer of such death sentences. 4pp. on card-style paper measures 8'' x 10.25''. Small paper loss to corners, else near fine. Accompanied by a more complete translation.
Published Death Sentence for Henri Bertrand -- ''...Bertrand was the first among the French who accompanied Bonaparte in his enterprise against France...''
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