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Auction: 25066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 136

(x) French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
The Coronation of Napoleon I as Emperor; A Unique Entry Ticket and Invitation Letter Assembly
1804: Entry ticket to Notre-Dame in Paris for the coronation ceremonies of Napoleon as Emperor on 2 December 1804. Printed on both sides on card, one side featuring the large Imperial arms and the inscription "Napoléon 1er., Empereur des Français.", and on reverse, "Cérémonie du Sacre et Couronnement.-Président d'Assemblée de Canton." (Coronation Ceremony- President of Cantonal Assembly), showing in centre red vertical oval chachet of the "Grand Maître des Cérémonies" (Grand Master of Ceremonies) and corresponding overlapping initials "LPS" of Louis Philippe de Ségur, who had the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating all the protocol and ceremonial aspects of the event.

The entry ticket was enclosed in the accompanying folded letter addressed to a President of Cantonal Assembly. On the reverse of the letter appears a different black oval cachet of the Grand Master of Ceremonies (a type used between 1804 and 1810), along with a tax marking (likely applied due to the absence of the cachet on the front, which would have indicated postal exemption). Inside the folded letter is the following printed text: "Le Grand-Maître des Cérémonies a l'honneur de vous envoyer __ Billet d'entrée à l'Eglise de Nôtre-Dame, pour la cérémonie du Sacre et Couronnement de LL.MM. l'Empereur et l'Impératrice" (The Grand Master of Ceremonies has the honor of sending you __ admission ticket to the Church of Notre-Dame for the ceremony of the Coronation and Crowning of Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress).

To our knowledge, this is the only letter recorded and one of two entry cards documented, the other being in much poorer condition. Unique as a complete duo, further enhanced by the extraordinarily good state of preservation. Of great historical significance for Napoleonica collectors.

Notes: We have only been able to document the existence of one other entry ticket, which is not accompanied by the significance entire letter with the invitation text. Moreover, this item has faults, including clipped corners affecting the design and damaged margins, a rust spot in the centre, and it lacks the red cachet of the Grand Master of Ceremonies. This piece was part of the former Napoleonic collection of the Prince's Palace of Monaco, whose sales began in 2014. It was sold as lot number 208 in the third sale by Osenat (Paris) and, despite its significant flaws, the entry ticket alone reached a hammer price of €4,500. The same piece was later offered at auction by Artcurial (Paris) as lot 19 in the "NAPOLÉON(S)-Collections impériales d'un grand amateur" sale, recently held on April 1st, 2025, and sold for €5,510 (presumably including buyer's premium).

The Presidents of the Contonal Assembely were local notables who presided over assemblies created as part of Napoleon's efforts to centralize and control local governance in post-Revolutionary France. As politically symbolic figures, they were part of Napoleon's strategy to consolidate power and cultivate loyalty throughout France by co-opting local elites into the new imperial structure.

The coronation of Napoleon I as Emperor marked a pivotal moment in European history. It symbolized the rise of a new imperial power following the French Revolution, blending revolutionary ideals with monarchical tradition. Unlike previous coronations, Napoleon famously crowned himself, asserting his authority and independence from the Church. The ceremony established the Napoleonic Empire, reshaped European politics, and influenced concepts of leadership and legitimacy for decades to come -based on achievement, military success, or popular support rather than solely hereditary right or divine sanction.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.