Lot 181
[Napoleon] Letitia Ramolino Bonaparte (1750-1836) Napoleon's mother, known as "Madame Mère." Letter written in French and signed in Italian ("Vostra affetissima Madre"), 2pp, 9½ x 7½", Rome, 30 April 1822. To her eldest son JOSEPH BONAPARTE (1768-1844) who lived primarily in the United States from 1817-1832, with news of various family members. The letter has been silked for conservation. The first few lines of text are light but legible. Very good.
Translated in part: "It's been quite some time since I've received any letters from you and I very much miss not hearing from you. I've been sick…but at the moment I'm feeling better. I had the consolation of embracing Jerome [her former son, former King of Westphalia)…I'm waiting for him and his children to return any day now. For some time we've been expecting the arrival of his son Jerome from America…He's probably given you news of me in person. He was also the bearer of a box that I sent you that contained my portrait, a bonnet, and a shawl for Charlotte [Joseph's daughter]. I'm waiting for your answer to the letter he transmitted to you; these are urgent matters. I've written you what I think about the marriage of Zenaide [Joseph's eldest daughter] and Charles [her grandson Charles Lucien Bonaparte, 2nd Prince Canino, a distinguished biologist and ornithologist. He named the genus Zenaida (Mourning Dove and its relatives) for his wife]. Charles has gone to Brussels with Lucien [Letitia's son, Prince Canino]…The marriage…will take place near the end of May. Pauline [her daughter, Princess Borghese, the most loyal of Napoleon's sisters] left this morning for Via Reggio…Louis [her son, the former King of Holland] leaves tomorrow for Florence and I'll be alone in Rome with the Cardinal [her half-brother and close advisor, Joseph Cardinal Fesch]. Adieu, my very dear son. Give me news of yourself more often because your long silence always causes me great anxiety. I embrace you tenderly with Charlotte (she might well write me also) and I am Your most affectionate Mother." Napoleon, her second son, had died in exile on the island of Saint Helena almost a year earlier, on 5 May 1821.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
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