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Learn MoreFramed Maritime Passport signed by Napoleon Bonaparte
- This passport was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte to allow American ships into France
- The passport is dated April 14, 1813, when Napoleon's forces were greatly weakened
- The passport was never used and is preserved in its beautiful frame
- Get complete item description here
$34,500
Item No.
32-2085
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Description
Framed Maritime Passport
Signed by Napoleon Bonaparte
Dated April 14, 1813
Signed documents of substantial scale by Napoleon Bonaparte are exceptionally scarce, and this maritime passport stands among the most revealing commercial instruments of his reign. Issued on April 14, 1813, it formally authorized an American merchant vessel to enter French ports during one of the most precarious moments of the Napoleonic Empire, when access to neutral trade had become a matter of survival. . .
Signed by Napoleon Bonaparte
Dated April 14, 1813
Signed documents of substantial scale by Napoleon Bonaparte are exceptionally scarce, and this maritime passport stands among the most revealing commercial instruments of his reign. Issued on April 14, 1813, it formally authorized an American merchant vessel to enter French ports during one of the most precarious moments of the Napoleonic Empire, when access to neutral trade had become a matter of survival. . .
Read More
Framed Maritime Passport
Signed by Napoleon Bonaparte
Dated April 14, 1813
Signed documents of substantial scale by Napoleon Bonaparte are exceptionally scarce, and this maritime passport stands among the most revealing commercial instruments of his reign. Issued on April 14, 1813, it formally authorized an American merchant vessel to enter French ports during one of the most precarious moments of the Napoleonic Empire, when access to neutral trade had become a matter of survival rather than policy.
By 1813, the catastrophic Russian campaign had shattered the Grande Armée, while British naval supremacy effectively sealed French ports. This passport—never used, as the American vessel never arrived—captures the tension between imperial ambition and geopolitical reality, underscoring Napoleon’s reliance on transatlantic trade even as his empire stood on the brink of collapse.
Executed on a large sheet and bearing Napoleon’s bold, unmistakable signature, it is further distinguished by extensive ministerial endorsements and countersignatures from senior imperial officials. The density of handwritten approvals, combined with the printed imperial heading and administrative annotations, conveys the seriousness with which maritime access was regulated during the height of the Continental System.
Paper: 19 1/2“ high x 13 5/8” wide (49.53 x 34.29 cm) Frame: 23 3/4" high x 18 1/8" wide x 1 1/2" deep (60.33 x 46.04 x 3.81 cm)
Provenance:
Guaranteed by a commercial house established in Bordeaux
Private collection, France
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Signed by Napoleon Bonaparte
Dated April 14, 1813
Signed documents of substantial scale by Napoleon Bonaparte are exceptionally scarce, and this maritime passport stands among the most revealing commercial instruments of his reign. Issued on April 14, 1813, it formally authorized an American merchant vessel to enter French ports during one of the most precarious moments of the Napoleonic Empire, when access to neutral trade had become a matter of survival rather than policy.
By 1813, the catastrophic Russian campaign had shattered the Grande Armée, while British naval supremacy effectively sealed French ports. This passport—never used, as the American vessel never arrived—captures the tension between imperial ambition and geopolitical reality, underscoring Napoleon’s reliance on transatlantic trade even as his empire stood on the brink of collapse.
Executed on a large sheet and bearing Napoleon’s bold, unmistakable signature, it is further distinguished by extensive ministerial endorsements and countersignatures from senior imperial officials. The density of handwritten approvals, combined with the printed imperial heading and administrative annotations, conveys the seriousness with which maritime access was regulated during the height of the Continental System.
Paper: 19 1/2“ high x 13 5/8” wide (49.53 x 34.29 cm) Frame: 23 3/4" high x 18 1/8" wide x 1 1/2" deep (60.33 x 46.04 x 3.81 cm)
Provenance:
Guaranteed by a commercial house established in Bordeaux
Private collection, France
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Read Less
Specifications
| Period: | 19th Century |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Historical Memorabilia |
| Depth: | 1.5 in. (3.81 cm) |
| Width: | 18.13 in. (46.04 cm) |
| Height: | 23.75 in. (60.33 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 13.500 in. (34.29 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 19.500 in. (49.53 cm) |
Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More
