Napoleon Relics.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 October 1914, Page 8

Napoleon Relics.

HISTORY IN AUTOGRAPHS

Followers of the Napoleonic cult in America—and their name is legion—will have an exceptional opportunity of acquiring mementoes when the collection of portraits, autographs, manuscripts, broadsides, medals, and books made by Mr. Warren C. Crane, of New York, is to be brought to the hammer.

Mr. Crane has been a collector of Napoleana for nearly forty years. Many of the items in his collection, it is announced, came from the Napoleonic Museum formed by Mr. .John Daintsbury in London, the contents of which wero dispersed in that city many years ago.

The collection contains what is said to be the largest number of documents signed by Napoleon ever offered at auction in the United States. There are "28 of them, and they were written as early as 1793 )and as late as 1815. These signatures show variations that are interesting as compared with Napoleon's career. In 1793 he signeil himself "Buonaparte" and "Buonaparte." In 1794 he was still "Buonaparte," with three lines in his autograph. In 1798, while in Egypt, he was "Buonaparte," but the next year, while still in Egypt, he became "Bonaparte." In 1820 he was "Bonaparte" as First Consul, but later in the same year he signed himself "Buonaparte," with two lines in his autograph. In 1802 he shortened it to "Bonaparte " again, and in 1806, so powerful had he become that a simple "NP." sufficed for his signature. In 1807 it was "Nap.,", and in 18.10 it bacame again the great Emperor's "NP." An extremely interesting item is four pages of the memoirs of Napoleon, in the 'handwriting of Las Casas, his companion in exile at St. Helena, with corrections in the autograph of Napoleon. There are also two pages of notes on the English army in the autograph of Las Casas, with correc- . lions in the handwriting of Napoleon. Of tragic interest, also, is a fourpage manuscript of Napoleon's son, the unhappy "L'Aiglon," written when he was sixteen years of age. The portrait section of the collection is very complete, there being no fewer than two thousand portraits of Napoleon himself. These include specimens in mezzotint, stipple, lithograph, a painting by Horace Vernet, original drawings in pencil and sepia, the work of French, German, Dutch, Italian, and English artists or engravers. These portraits exhibit a remarkable number of conceptions of the features of Napoleon. He is length, half-length, full bust, aud sculptured bust, with long hair portrayed full length, throe-quarter, and short hair, with and without cocked hat, on horseback, facing front, facing right, facing left, etc., and. in sizes ranging- f rom sft , high to three-quarters of an inch. The latter is said to be the smallest full-length portrait of Napoleon ever engraved. Many and varied are the representations of the uniforms, costumes, or apparel, from the time he was at school at St. Helena. Among the books the most important is Ireland's "Life of Napoleon," first edition with ,the colored plates by Cruikshanl, extra illustrated by the insertion of 172 portraits, views, and facsimiles, and with a fine autograph signature of the Emperor dated p on . tainebleau, July 17, 1805. There is also Bovirienne's "Memoirs of Napoleon," first edition, four volumes extended to eight by the insertion of 1000 portraits, views, and other pictures, and an autograph signature of Napoleon.