Joseph Bonaparte | Letter signed, to Joséphine Bonaparte, 1796

Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte

Autograph letter signed, to Joséphine Bonaparte

who had joined her husband in Italy and who, as he has just heard, has moved from Milan to Genoa, "...je vous fais mon compliment, lorsqu'on voyage beaucoup l'on se porte bien...", informing her that he is about to leave for Corsica and asking to be kept informed of Napoleon's progress, "...si vous avés des nouvelles de Napoleone, donnés m'en...", apologising for being unable to send the tea she had requested, but noting that six hundred bottles of 1786 Burgundy should have been sent to Milan for her, signed "votre frere joseph", two pages, 4to, Livorno, 16 Brumaire an 5 [6 November 1796], two smalllater pencil annotations

Joséphine joined Napoleon in Italy in July 1796, but the fighting prevented them from spending much time together. In November Napoleon advised Joséphine to leave Milan for Genoa. Between November 15 and 17, ten days after the present letter was written, he gained his celebrated victory at Arcola.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 30 May 1979, lot 11