Description:

Napoleon Bonaparte
Château de Saint-Cloud, just outside of Paris, France, le 25 Germinal An 11 [April 15, 1803]
Napoleon Bonaparte PSA MINT 9 Boldly Signed Directive Re: Money Collection in Italian Republic 2 Weeks Before Louisiana Purchase Signing
MDS

A 1p manuscript document in French boldly signed by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), the future French Emperor and then First Consul of the French Republic, as "Bonaparte" at center. Bonaparte's signature is dark and decisive with a Zorro-like slash to the "e" and measures approximately 2.375" x .875" alone. 25 Germinal An 11 [April 15, 1803]. Issued from the Château de Saint-Cloud, just outside of Paris, France. Secretarially inscribed on laid watermarked paper. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified and graded MINT 9. Isolated contemporaneous ink spots not affecting the text. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few wrinkles, and a tiny chip along the left edge. A former collector's isolated pencil inscriptions recto, else near fine. The sight size of the document is 7.125" x 9.125" while overall the slab measures 9.625" x 13.125" x .25." Provenance: Ex-Mary Benjamin, 1963.

Napoleon's request reads, translated in full:

"I request Citizen Citeve (?) to make a table of the revenue and expenditure of the Italian Republic, taking care to deduce from each direct tax the product of tax collection according to French usage.

Saint Cloud, 25 Germinal An 11

The 1st Consul

[signed] Bonaparte."

Napoleon is requesting detailed information about the state of finances in the Italian Republic, showing a classic example of his hands-on (or some might say micro-managerial) approach to administration. Yet there was a reason for Napoleon's insistence on collecting microdata; he needed to be able to forecast his long-term financial plans, both foreign and domestic. Tax reforms rolled out by Napoleon standardized taxes and made tax collection more efficient. Such an attempt at standardization is certainly shown here, where Napoleon requests that stats be reformatted "according to French usage."

The Italian Republic ("République italienne") was located in the Lombardy and Romagna regions in present day northern Italy, with its capital at Milan. The successor of the Cisalpine Republic, the Italian Republic was a short-lived satellite state of the French Republic established in January 1802, with Napoleon named as its president. The Italian Republic only lasted until 1805, when Napoleon's title was changed to King of Italy, and he began administering the Kingdom of Italy. Napoleon oversaw the Italian Republic with the help of a vice president, and seven cabinet ministers, among whom was Treasury Minister Antonio Veneri.

The Italian Republic comprised an area of about 42,000 square kilometers, divided up into 12 administrative departments. It had a population of more than 3 million inhabitants. The local economy was mostly agricultural, consisting of cereal crops and livestock, yet the area was also celebrated for its silk production. Certainly Napoleon's financial functionary would have pored over facts and figures relating to these local income-generators.

The Italian Republic played an important role in Napoleon's empire-building strategy, according to historian Andrew Roberts. Napoleon used it as a buffer between France and Austria, France's newest fiercest rival. Even better, Napoleon could use the Italian Republic as a jumping off point to attack the Austrians. For more information, see Andrew Roberts, "Napoleon: A Life" (New York: Penguin Books, 2014), p. 145.

Just two weeks later, on April 30, 1803, American and French representatives signed the Louisiana Purchase. The sale of roughly 800,000 square miles west of the Mississippi River in exchange for $15 million would fill Napoleon's coffers and enable him to plan an invasion of England. Perhaps income collected from the Italian Republic was earmarked for the same purpose?

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: slabbed: 9.625" x 13.125" x .25"
  • Medium: MDS

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