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Worldwide Stamps & Postal History - Dec. 2024 continued...

THE KEVIN PREECE - NAPOLEON'S INVASION OF RUSSIA continued...
Lot Catalog No. Descrip Opening
361   imageSIEGE OF DUNABURG (RUSSIA) - PRUSSIAN OFFICER'S LETTER WITH RED "No.5/GRANDE-ARMEE" MARK; 18 July 1812 small EL (overall toning) from a Prussian Officer at "Dunaburg" written as Napoleon's forces were trying to capture the fortress there, addressed to "Crevelt" and charged "5" with a partly fine red "No.5/GRANDE-ARMEE" nicely placed on the front. The closely written contents in German [even Google Lens struggles with the writing] include details of the writer's involvement in the ongoing attacks on the Russian fortress in Dunaburg (now Daugavpils, Latvia) - which is still commemorated with an annual festival to this day; "...We have been on Russian territory for four and twenty days. I have fired several bullets... This day we have taken about twelve prisoners, even one dead... standing outside [are] five thousand soldiers in the greatest disorder...". It would undoubtedly benefit from an accurate and full transcription. Good Campaign Letter. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 260

Currently...£260.00
Currently...USD 338.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
362   imageFRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER FROM USHACHI (NEAR VITEBSK) WITH MENTION OF NAPOLEON & HIS WIFE; 24 July 1812 EL (slight toning & wear) from Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) to his father in Paris and redirected to Nevers charged "5" with a very fine Paris "P" in triangle mark, apparently carried by Military messengers. The contents include; "Yesterday evening, the Empress came to the Service room where I was alone with Garzand[?] and said to me; 'Well, Mr. de Castellane'. I have since thought that her Majesty was perhaps going to speak to me about my excellent father, but she asked whether the ordnance officers who remained in Vilna had arrived... I am here in a kind of farm, home of some great Polish lord… I am going to Kamen [a tiny village about 20 miles to the south-east of Ushachi, on the road to Vitebsk] where the emperor is…", and notes mail sent by estafettes. Good letter from the occupying French Army in Russia, which would repay full transcription and translation. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 400

Currently...£400.00
Currently...USD 520.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
363   imageBATTLE OF VITEBSK - OFFICER'S ACCOUNT WITH RED "No.11/GRANDE-ARMEE" MARK & ARTILLERY CACHET; Fine 29 July 1812 EL from a French officer in "Vitebsk" (with almost complete fine oval-framed "[crown/eagle]/CORPS IMPERIAL/D/ARTILLERIE" cachet across the seal) to Caen charged "9" with a fine red "No.11/GRANDE-ARMEE" mark nicely placed on the front. The contents (in need of a full transcript & translation) were written only 2 days after the Battle of Vitebsk include; "We entered Vitebsk the day before yesterday... without having fired a single shot from a rifle; the two days before there had been a harsh encounter, it is estimated (from the very beginning of the day[?]) the loss of Russians was 15,000, and we took from them 15 or 18 pieces of Canon... We have to regret the loss of ... B. Roussel; for the rest I do not know [?if we can] make the Corps of General Bagration prisoner...". Good campaign letter from occupied Russia. [With 2003 Dr. R Goebel certificate.] Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 340

Currently...£340.00
Currently...USD 442.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
364   imageBATTLE OF VITEBSK, ETC. - OFFICER'S ACCOUNT SENT BY MILITARY ESTAFETTE TO PARIS; 29 July 1812 EL from "Witepsk" by Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) to his mother in Paris and redirected to Arches charged "6" with a long letter initially sent by the French Army's express estafette system from Russia to Paris. The contents include; "...I left to join the Emperor 7 leagues from here on the road to Smolensk...the Russians are retreating... There were 3 battles on the 25th, one of very lively cavalry, the King of Naples at the head; we took 8 cannons on the 26th from the Army of Italy... one on the 27th where the emperor was, the battle was very lively, but few troops were engaged. On the 28th we entered Witepsk, yesterday morning the Cossacks were still at the gate of the city. I went to recconoitre them and then accompanied General de Caulaincourt who pursued them. On the 27th I brought back and rallied the pursuers from the 16th and 8th Hussars... these are two excellent regiments that have worked wonders all these days, and took the 8 cannons on the 25th with the 9th Lancers of Colonel Gotrecht (former major of my regiment) who had 3 horses killed and a bayonet wound in the hand... an aide-de-camp of the king of Naples and I brought them back to their brigade...". Fine Campaign letter from occupied Russia. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 340

Currently...£340.00
Currently...USD 442.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
365   imageAPPROACHING MOSCOW - FRENCH SOLDIER'S LETTER EX LYUBAVICHI WITH "No.36/GRANDE-ARMEE" MARK; 6 Aug. 1812 EL (almost full English translation; contemporary ink blot affects a few words of the contents, but clear of the address panel) from a French soldier at "Louwawischi pres de la Dvina [River] et en levant de Vitebsk" to "Aurillac" charged "10" and then "16" with a mainly fine black "No.36/GRANDE-ARMEE" mark on the front. The letter includes; "We have travelled through all of Lithuania and a part of Lvotal[?] from the Nieman as far as the Dvina... We have already gained several victories over the Russians... I think we are soon to resume our course towards old Moscow", which was only c.290 miles away. Rare letter from this stage of the march on the Russian capital. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE, LITHUANIA (Image)

Starting at £ 200

Currently...£200.00
Currently...USD 260.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
366   imageFRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER FROM "DOROGOBUZH" (NEAR SMOLENSK) REF. RUSSIAN SKIRMISHES, ETC.; 27 Aug. 1812 EL from Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) on the march, to his father in Paris, and redirected to Clermont charged "6" having been carried from the French Army in Russia to Paris by military express Estafette riders. The contents written during the long march across Russia - started just "8 leagues short of Dorogobuzh and 32 [leagues] from Smolensk" - includes some details of skirmishes with Russian forces, and note that the writer's letters were sent by the "estafette". Worthy of full transcription and translation. Rare Campaign Letter from the final section of the advance on Moscow. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 260

Currently...£260.00
Currently...USD 338.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
367   imageFRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER FROM "GHJAT" (GZHATSK) REF. TROOPS SUFFERING HARDSHIPS, ETC.; 1-2 Sept. 1812 EL (minor wear, mainly affecting folds) from Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) on the march at "Ghjat" (Gzhatsk - now known as Gagarin - only 113 miles from the centre of Moscow) to his father in Paris and redirected to Lyons charged "8" (with an illegible framed circular mark - presumably of Paris - on the flap) having been carried from the French Army in Russia to Paris by military express Estafette riders. The contents written during the long march across Russia mention pillaging wine stocks from a shop and relate to the deteriorating state of, and the hardships being suffered by, the troops of the slowly advancing French Army. Would repay careful transcription and full translation. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 260

Currently...£260.00
Currently...USD 338.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
368   imageBATTLE OF BORODINO - EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT WRITTEN THE DAY AFTER BY A GERMAN SOLDIER WITH FAINT "[Q Trer G A L']ARMEE/WESTPHALIENNE"; Fine 9 Sept. 1812 EL (closed tear just affects bottom right corner of address panel, clear of writing and marks) sent from "Bivouac [Camp] near Mosaick" [Mozhaisk; just 70 miles west of Moscow] to the writer's father in "Zellerfeld, Royaume de Westphalie" by a German soldier of the small Westphalian Contingent in the Grande Armee, charged "40" and "2m 6d" on the front along with a very faint (as so often) strike of the "[Q Trer G A L'ARMEE/WESTPHALIENNE]" mark. The fascinating contents include; "To my great relief, in spite of today's rather difficult postal situation, I am able to send you a message from me personally and at the same time inform you that fortunately two successful battles have taken place; one on August 19th near Smolensk [Valutino/Lubino] and one on September 7th near Mozhaisk [Borodino], 14 leagues from Moscow. The latter lasted from 6 o’clock am to 5 o’clock pm … and in that latter battle, it is said that the Russians had 2,500 wounded, 1,000 dead and 6,000 taken prisoner along with 43 cannons. On our side it was much better…in our regiment only 3 or 4 were killed or wounded. We do not doubt that we will soon be in Moscow, because the Emperor [Napoleon Bonaparte] is only 6 leagues away from there now… As for food, things are difficult for us; on some days we do not have any bread, but no doubt in a few days we will be in Moscow… At Smolensk, I had a small bullet wound in my right leg, but it is not significant…”. Five days later the French took Moscow (already set on fire by the Russians). Important Campaign Letter. [With Soluphil 2012 certificate.] [Ex Soluphil auction, Jan. 2012; lot 159; realised 3,215 euros inc. BP.]Cross Reference: GERMAN STATES, FRANCE, RUSSIA (Image)

Starting at £ 1,300

Currently...£1,300.00
Currently...USD 1,690.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
369   imageNEWS OF RUSSIAN PRISONERS REACHING GERMANY - KOENISBERG USAGE OF "No.23/GRANDE-ARMEE"; Fine 15 Sept. 1812 EL (in legible French) from "Sergt. Senot of the 26th Legion, 3rd 1/2 Brigade de Marche" in "Koenisberg" (then in Prussia, now Kaliningrad in Russia) to his sister in Balleroy with a mainly very fine "No.23/GRANDE-ARMEE" on the front and charged "10". The contents include; "Some days ago 1,100 Russian prisoners passed through here, including a considerable number of officers. There are no happy faces amongst them; they have a rough and half wild appearance and have a slovenliness which compares badly with the French attitude, for amongst us a spot is a fault which merits punishment". Unusual reference to Russian POWs being sent eastwards into French held areas.Cross Reference: GERMAN STATES, FRANCE, RUSSIA (Image)

Starting at £ 200

Currently...£200.00
Currently...USD 260.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
370   imageRARE INGOING COVER TO ITALIAN SOLDIER IN POLAND WITH 2 DIFFERENT "DEB." "GRANDE-ARMEE" MARKS, ETC.; Remarkable small 12 Sept. 1812 EL (v. brief note ref. having sent the addressee 3 Napoleons in Lira) from "Brozzi" (nr. Florence) prepaid with a fine "P.112.P." mark on the front to an Italian soldier of the 14th Division of the 1st Battalion in the 53rd Regiment in "Glogau" (Poland) and so having the boxed red Paris "P.P.P.P." transit mark. But then much-travelled and endorsed "Silesie", "A l'Armee" etc., with spectacular backstamps; mainly v. fine black "DEB./Bau. SEDENTAIRE/GRANDE-ARMEE", v. fine red "No.16/GRANDE-ARMEE" and a partly fine matching red "No.16.DEB./GRANDE-ARMEE" (across the seal). Ingoing mail to French soldiers during the Russian Campaign is rarely seen.Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES, POLAND, FRANCE (Image) (Image2)

image

Starting at £ 260

Currently...£260.00
Currently...USD 338.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
371   imageFRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER EX "MOZAISK" (NR. MOSCOW) WITH "[Qtier. Gal. ARMEE/WESTPHALIENNE]" + "NEWKIRCHEN(PAR)"; 22 Sept. 1812 EL (toned reverse; partial typed transcription & translation) from a French Officer (Trousset; probably a "Dispersing Agent" in the Imperial Quarters) in "Mozaisk" to his wife in Rouen unusually routed via Westphalia charged "6" and "9" with a very faint (as usual at this date) "[Qtier Gal ARMEE/WESTPHALIENNE]" on the front with a fine "NEUKIRCHEN(PAR)." transit mark. Sent from the Occupation Army at Mozhaysk near Moscow during their brief occupation of that capital city. The contents include; "I just learned, my dear Melanie, that a Westphalian courier is arriving here, and will leave immediately. I am taking this opportunity to write to you hastily. He will send my letter in the Box to Magdeburg or Cassel. We have been in Moscow for about a week, the city has been largely burned; it is a great misfortune for the army, which will have great privations to endure if it spends the winter in the country which we now occupy. I asked for my retirement in an indirect way, and I have proposed someone who aspires to the first vacant place. As he has credit for himself and is eager to succeed, I imagine that he will do his best for me, since without a vacancy he does not have much to hope for. This is the time for winter quarters, and I hope that my business will be resolved although I have not yet received any response to the opening I made to him." He then gives details of his expected annual income from his Legion d'Honneur. A rare insight into a French Officer's state of mind as winter set in around Moscow. [With 2015 Roumet certificate.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, RUSSIA, GERMAN STATES (Image)

Starting at £ 260

Currently...£260.00
Currently...USD 338.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
372   imageMOSCOW - LETTER EX SOLDIER IN THE OCCUPIED CITY WITH "Bau. Gal./GRANDE-ARMEE" - REF. MAIL PROBLEMS, ETC.; Fine 24 Sept. 1812 EL headed from "Moscou" by a French soldier "Le Couturier de Ste James" to his parents in "Belesme" (Belleme nr. Alencon, France) charged "9" with a fine "Bau. Gal./GRANDE-ARMEE" mark nicely placed on the front. The contents (worthy of full transcription and translation) include; "We cannot encounter any Post Office. As soon as I arrived in Moscow, I had nothing more urgent than to find one to go and see what is there... Your four letters, one addressed to Palmeira(?) in Spain, the other to Turin, posted by Mr. Ayot the police officer, the other to Mainz, and the 4th to Grodno in Poland, they all arrived together and in the same package. I find it a very astonishing thing, that letters which bear dates so far apart from each other have been brought together but which I am happy to have received together... We are now billeted in Moscow." Very rare mail from the French Army in Moscow itself. [Ex Lugdunum auction, March 2015; realised 2,916 euros inc. BP.]Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 1,300

Currently...£1,300.00
Currently...USD 1,690.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
373   imageMINSK - GERMAN SOLDIER'S LETTER WITH "No.21/GRANDE-ARMEE" MARK TO LUNEBURG (SAXONY); 24 Sept. 1812 EL (minor dusting) headed from "Minske" ex "Christoph Heidemann, 129 Regement, 2 Batalion, 2 Comp[any]" to "Winsen, Luneburg" with a mainly very fine "No.21/GRANDE-ARMEE" mark nicely placed on the front having an "18" charge changed to "12" and then "14". The contents (part typed transcript & part translation) include; "We are now in Russian Poland. We are in the city of Minsk but we don't have it too bad there. It's OK there and everything isn't that expensive. But on the march we had it very bad; I never had any bread in three weeks, but it's OK now." Rare letter from the French Occupation Army in this city, and interesting contents from a German soldier. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE, GERMAN STATES (Image)

Starting at £ 260

Currently...£260.00
Currently...USD 338.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
374   imageAUSTRIAN 1st DIVISION COMMANDER'S REPORT ON BATTLE OF LYOBOML (IN RUSSIA NEAR HORODNO); Very fine 29 Sept. 1812 official military despatch EL signed as an official letter on the front by the writer Field-Marshall Lieutenant "[Friedrich F.] Bianchi" and having a 98% impression of Quartermaster Staab's seal in red wax on the reverse; "K.K. CONEP(?) QUARTIERMEISTERS STAABS SIGILL." Presumably addressed to his General in "Trapz[?]". The contents (typed transcription and basic translation included) written from "Horodno" (now Horodje in NW Ukraine) give a report on the recent Battle of Lyoboml; "When I came to Horodno I found the woods... occupied by the enemy... before I left, four companies of the enemy attacked . It soon became apparent that the enemy was very weak and he left immediately...". Rare Official Campaign letter from the Austrian forces in occupied Russia. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, AUSTRIA (Image)

Starting at £ 340

Currently...£340.00
Currently...USD 442.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
375   imageVERY RARE MANUSCRIPT "Moscow" MARKING ON LETTER FROM A FRENCH OFFICER TO HIS MOTHER IN PARIS; Remarkable and very small two-sheet 3 Oct. 1812 EL (v. fine except for a small hole at bottom left of address clear of markings and only affecting a couple of words of the contents) headed from "Moscou" from a French Officer to his mother "Madame de Chauretin" in Paris (fine 2-ring "October/21/1812" cds nicely placed on the lower flap); charged "13" with the very rare Manuscript "Moscow" at top right, clearly written by the Post Office (in Moscow itself?) and one of probably only three recorded examples (the others being dated 20/21 Sept. 1812, but the earliest one with the spelling "Moscou"). The long and closely written contents in French are very hard to decipher, but would repay careful transcription and translation, because this is a very rare letter written from occupied Moscow itself. [Ex Soluphil auction, Apr. 2010; lot 52, realised 3,505 euros inc. BP.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, RUSSIA (Image)

Starting at £ 1,600

Currently...£1,600.00
Currently...USD 2,080.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
376   imageGERMAN SOLDIER'S LETTER EX "MOZAIK" (NR. MOSCOW) TO CASSEL WITHOUT POSTAL MARKS BUT WITH 1812 DEATH CERTIFICATE; 13 Oct. 1812 EL (some fading and overall dusting of the address; with full typed transcript and rough translation) from a German Grenadier (Wilhelm Jutte) in "Mozaik" (Mozhaysk; 69 miles west of central Moscow) to another soldier's wife in "Cassel" giving her the sad news that her soldier husband (Johann Luckert), had died; "...on October 12th. [20 days after he had said that he was dying]...there is nothing to be had here - no pen, paper or ink; you do not see anyone in the towns - all is like a desert... he left nothing behind... he had been ill in Orsya for 14 days...there is no money for food and we have to live quite miserably now; our Battalion have almost all died". Together with stained and folded (but complete; full typed transcription & translation) authenticated 1847 death certificate for Luckert stating that he had died in the field on 14th Oct. 1812 "as a result of exhaustion"). A sad story. [See also the 5 June 1812 letter above that was sent by Luckert himself in Warsaw to his wife.] (2 items) Cross Reference: RUSSIA, GERMAN STATES (Image) (Image2)

image

Starting at £ 260

Currently...£260.00
Currently...USD 338.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
THE KEVIN PREECE - NAPOLEON'S RETREAT FROM MOSCOW
Lot Catalog No. Descrip Opening
377   imageTHE DAY THE RETREAT STARTED - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER EX "MOZAISK" TO ROUEN BY WESTPHALIAN COURIER; 19 Oct. 1812 EL (toned reverse; full typed transcription & translation) from a French Officer (Trousset; probably a "Dispersing Agent" in the Imperial Quarters) in "Mozaisk" to his wife in Rouen unusually routed via Westphalia charged "6" and "15" with a partly fine (for this) "[Qtier. Gal. ARMEE]/WESTPHALIENNE" on the front partly overstruck by a fine "NEUKIRCHEN(PAR)." transit mark. Sent from the Occupation Army at Mozhaysk near Moscow on the very day that the Retreat from Moscow began. The understandably brief contents are as follows; "My dear Melanie, there have been a fortnight since I had any opportunity to write to you. I learned that a Westphalian courier left tomorrow, and I took the opportunity to give my news very hastily. I am crushed by work and trauma; I occupy the most arduous and unpleasant position that it is possible to imagine. Your letters are piling up in Moscow. I asked someone to remove them; I wait for them every moment. The whole army makes a move again; I hope to be placed in such a way that our correspondence reaches us regularly. Farewell, my dear Melanie, I love and kiss you with all my heart as well as our children, Trousset". Remarkable letter written on the day that Napoleon's dream of conquering Russia ended. [With photocopy of 2015 Roumet certificate.] Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE, GERMAN STATES (Image)

Starting at £ 340

Currently...£340.00
Currently...USD 442.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
378   imageTHE RETREAT STARTED GATHERS PACE - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER EX "MOZAISK" TO ROUEN BY WESTPHALIAN COURIER; 26 Oct. 1812 EL (lightly toned reverse; full typed transcription & translation) from a French Officer (Trousset; probably a "Dispersing Agent" in the Imperial Quarters) in "Mozaisk" to his wife in Rouen unusually routed via Westphalia charged "6" and "15" with a recognisable "Qtier. Gal. ARMEE/WESTPHALIENNE" on the front beside a very fine "NEUKIRCHEN(PAR)." transit mark. Sent from the Occupation Army at Mozhaysk just as it was about to join the Moscow troops on their retreat. The contents include; "I am once again taking advantage, my dear Melanie, of a Westphalian courier to give you my news. This letter will be the last from Mozaisk. The army is on the move, and we are waiting every minute for the order to leave. It is to be assumed that the army will take up its winter quarters in Lithuania, that is to say, 190 leagues closer to France.... It has been more than a month since I received any letters from you. They are at Headquarters... I have written... to you several times. I don't know if my letters reached you; several couriers were kidnapped by the Cossacks.... It was a misfortune for me not to have been in Moscow at the beginning; there are some very good sources at very good prices...". Important letter written as the Mozhaysk troops were about to leave. [With p.copy of 2015 Roumet certificate.] Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE, GERMAN STATES (Image)

Starting at £ 340

Currently...£340.00
Currently...USD 442.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
379   imageTHE RETREAT - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER SENT DURING THE MARCH BY COURIER FROM "SMOLENSK" TO PARIS; Very fine small 10-12 Nov. 1812 EL (part typed transcript/translation) from Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) on the Retreat at "Smolensk" sent by French military courier to his father in Paris and so without postal marks (c.f. the next lot and other lots above from this same correspondence which were all forwarded from Paris and so had internal French rates and marks). The contents written (in a chaotic hand and covering every available space) when the retreating French Army was almost half way back from Moscow to the Polish border, include; "I went to the War Commissioners to provide food for our people... returned to the palace for lunch. I came here and was having a devilish day so instead of writing I decided to clean up - then I got rid of a letter to the Duchess of Uchingen(?)... We don't know if we start tomorrow or if we will stay here until the day after tomorrow... [I shall] take this letter to the courier…". It was endorsed inside as having been "received in Paris November 29". A very rare letter from the French Army in transit back from Moscow that would repay full translation. [Ex Soluphil auction, Dec. 2010; lot 92, realised 3,213 euros inc. BP.] Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE (Image)

Starting at £ 1,000

Currently...£1,000.00
Currently...USD 1,300.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM
380   imageTHE RETREAT - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER SENT WHILE SUFFERING FROSTBITE DURING THE MARCH FROM "VILNA" TO PARIS; Very fine small 5-9 Dec. 1812 EL (part typed translation) from Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) on the Retreat at "Smorghoni" (now Smarhon, Russia) then at "Ochmiana" (now Ashmiany, Russia) and then at "Vilna" (now Vilnius, Lithuania) sent by French military courier to his father in Paris; redirected to Reuil charged "3" with a very fine triangular framed Paris "P" on the front. The handwriting of the contents show just how badly the writer was suffering from frostbite; they are started with the right hand as usual but then he has to use his left hand (an understandably messy script). They include; "...we will march with the guard to Vilna... Mr de Narbonne has a mission for me for Berlin... we will not arrive until the day after tomorrow in Vilna...We travelled 10 leagues in very cold weather, left at 8am, we arrived here [Ochmiana] at 3.30pm. I am writing to you from a Synagogue where my horses are. I'm going to go to the castle to see if it's possible to have dinner...Vilna this December 9, 1812, Wednesday 1/2 noon.... I had two frozen hands the day before yesterday, and I will now not be able to use the right one for 6 weeks. We hope to leave this evening for Kowno and Konigsberg & ca. is very difficult for post horses. I found 2 crates here; one of 6 bottles of wine, one with 2 pairs of boots along with your letter of August 3, and I also received your excellent letter No.104 from Paris of November 24. Poor [??] is very sore in his feet and hands... I hope you won't be dissatisfied with my talent with my left hand... I'm going to take my letter to the courier... we hope to leave this evening for Kowno and Koenigsberg...". Napoleon, in Smorghoni himself on December 5, learned of General Malet's attempted coup d'état in Paris on that day; after holding a grand Council of War, the Emperor gave his instructions to Murat and immediately left for Paris, abandoning the great army to its fate! A graphic and important Campaign Letter from the final the Retreat from Moscow. [Ex Soluphil auction, Dec. 2010; lot 93, realised 3,600 euros inc. BP.] Cross Reference: RUSSIA, LITHUANIA, FRANCE (Image) (Image2) (Image3) (Image4) (Image5)

image image

Starting at £ 1,300

Currently...£1,300.00
Currently...USD 1,690.00
Closing..Dec-03, 03:00 AM

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