Take a look at this.
To the untrained eye it's a squiggle.The scratch of a pen and a few words in the margins of history.
Unless you know what you're looking at, you'd scarcely notice it at all.
But look again.
With a little knowledge, you can see things other people don't.
And you know exactly what's right in front of you.
It's a rare treasure.
A connection through time to one of history's greatest figures.
This is the personal mark of a singular man, whose willpower shaped the modern world as we know it.
And these are the handwritten words of Napoleon.
A direct order from the Emperor.
A Napoleon signature is a magnificent thing to own.
His initials alone on a letter or document give it great value.
However, the piece I'm offering you today gives you something far rarer than just a signature.
A direct military order from Napoleon written in his own hand.
And what's more, he wrote it at the very peak of his military power.
The date was May 22, 1812.
And he was about to embark on his boldest military campaign yet.
The invasion of Russia.
So when Napoleon wrote these words, and signed with a flourish, he truly believed he was invincible.
And that makes this a very powerful piece of history.
However, the piece I'm offering you today gives you something far rarer than just a signature.
A direct military order from Napoleon written in his own hand.
And what's more, he wrote it at the very peak of his military power.
The date was May 22, 1812.
And he was about to embark on his boldest military campaign yet.
The invasion of Russia.
So when Napoleon wrote these words, and signed with a flourish, he truly believed he was invincible.
And that makes this a very powerful piece of history.
A magnificent military document.
So first let's examine the document itself.
It's a report to "His Majesty The Emperor and King", dated May 13, 1812.
It was written and signed by the Duke de Feltre, Napoleon's trusted Minister of War.
The Duke informs Napoleon that there are no suitable candidates in the 2nd battalion of the 113th regiment for promotion to become NCOs (non-commissioned officers).
(For a full translation of the document click here.)
Napoleon replies "en prendre dans le bataillonde velites a Florence":
"Take some from the battalion of light infantry cadets at Florence".
He signs the order with his initials "NP", as he did with all military documents and letters from this period.
And his secretary has dated his reply "Dresden, 22 May 1812".
It was written and signed by the Duke de Feltre, Napoleon's trusted Minister of War.
The Duke informs Napoleon that there are no suitable candidates in the 2nd battalion of the 113th regiment for promotion to become NCOs (non-commissioned officers).
(For a full translation of the document click here.)
Napoleon replies "en prendre dans le bataillonde velites a Florence":
"Take some from the battalion of light infantry cadets at Florence".
He signs the order with his initials "NP", as he did with all military documents and letters from this period.
And his secretary has dated his reply "Dresden, 22 May 1812".
That large confident signature, and those eight rare handwritten words, elevate this piece above many other Napoleon items on the market.And so do its quality and condition.
This is a visually impressive piece, measuring approx 62cm x 40cm, and folded to a size measuring 31cm x 20cm.
It survives in very good condition, with the mild toning and marks you would expect for a paper document of this age.
And the handwritten text remains crisp, fresh and beautifully legible.
This is absolutely a Napoleon item worthy of display.
So now let's turn to the historic context of this document.
Because the story behind it elevates it even further.
A major turning point.
Napoleon signed this document at the Conference of Dresden.
As a show of power, and to gain support for his planned invasion of Russia, he gathered Emperors, Kings, princes and dukes from across Europe.
Napoleon arrived on May 16, 1812 in spectacular style, accompanied by more than 300 carriages, and no expense was spared.
His guests were treated to elaborate banquets and theatrical performances - but Napoleon himself was rarely in attendance.
Instead he was busy behind the scenes, obsessively planning his Russia campaign down to the finest detail.
As his personal order on this document shows, he had complete control over every aspect of his army.
And he was awaiting a reply from Tsar Alexander I, who had been given an ultimatum to cede Russian territory or face the consequences.
When Alexander refused his terms, and stated he would rather have war than “disgraceful peace”, Napoleon knew the time had come.
He said simply "the bottle is opened – the wine must be drunk".
And just one week after he signed this document...
Napoleon left Dresden to commence his invasion of Russia.
The decision that would ultimately bring about his downfall.
Napoleon arrived on May 16, 1812 in spectacular style, accompanied by more than 300 carriages, and no expense was spared.
His guests were treated to elaborate banquets and theatrical performances - but Napoleon himself was rarely in attendance.
Instead he was busy behind the scenes, obsessively planning his Russia campaign down to the finest detail.
As his personal order on this document shows, he had complete control over every aspect of his army.
And he was awaiting a reply from Tsar Alexander I, who had been given an ultimatum to cede Russian territory or face the consequences.
When Alexander refused his terms, and stated he would rather have war than “disgraceful peace”, Napoleon knew the time had come.
He said simply "the bottle is opened – the wine must be drunk".
And just one week after he signed this document...
Napoleon left Dresden to commence his invasion of Russia.
The decision that would ultimately bring about his downfall.
Your chance to own history.
Napoleon signed items are increasingly scarce.
Historically, the demand has always been strong. People have been collecting his memorabilia for two centuries.
But last year's Hollywood biopic brought his story to a wider audience, inspiring a new generation of collectors.
And in a market where his iconic bi-corne hats sell for $2 million...
And the value of his signature rises at an average annual rate of 24%...
Investors now see Napoleon as a solid 'blue chip' name.
Today you're just as likely to find his memorabilia in financial portfolios as you are in museum cabinets.
All of this makes for a strong, vibrant market – but it also makes obtaining his signature much more difficult.
So when a Napoleon signed document of such exceptional quality appears on my desk, it's a genuinely exciting moment.
And it's my pleasure to be able to offer it to you today.
If you want that collection to be yours, I suggest you act now.
You can purchase it today for just £4,950.
And you have three simple ways to complete your order.
So when a Napoleon signed document of such exceptional quality appears on my desk, it's a genuinely exciting moment.
And it's my pleasure to be able to offer it to you today.
- It features a large bold example of Napoleon's signature.
- A highly rare direct military order written in his own hand.
- And it was signed at the historic Conference of Dresden, just one week before he commenced his fateful invasion of Russia.
If you want that collection to be yours, I suggest you act now.
You can purchase it today for just £4,950.
And you have three simple ways to complete your order.
- Email me at info@paulfrasercollectibles.com
- Call me on +44 (0) 1534 639 998.
- Or click below to purchase in our secure online store.
Buy this document now
Your personal guarantee.
I've been helping clients build their collections for 45 years.
So I want you to purchase this piece in complete confidence - and build your own historic collection you can be proud of for years to come.
That's why this Napoleon signed document comes with:
- Free global delivery
- A Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity
- And a Paul Fraser Collectibles Certificate of Authenticity
It's also covered by our 28-day returns policy.
So if you decide it's not right for you, you're free to return it - no questions asked.
And if you have any questions about this piece, get in touch today.
Email me now at info@paulfrasercollectibles.com.
Or call me on +44 (0) 1534 639 998.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Until next time,
Paul Fraser.
P.S. You very rarely find Napoleon's own handwritten words on documents such as this one. It's a thrilling discovery - so don't pass up your chance to own it.
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