Details
JOSEPHINE, 1763-1814, Empress of France. Letter signed ("Josephine") as Empress, to an unidentified recipient, Bordeaux, 20 April 1808. 1 page, 4to, 229 x 186mm. (9 x 7 1/4 in.), integral blank, tiny hole at left margin (catching one letter), in French.
JOSEPHINE ASKS FOR EXOTIC PLANTS AND A BIRD FROM THE AMERICAS FOR HER HOUSE AND GARDEN AT MALMAISON
A warm letter attesting to the persistence of one of the great gardeners. Just a year before her divorce from Napoleon Bonaparte, the Empress (who had grown up on Martinique in the Caribbean) forwards a letter to a friend bound for the French colonies in America, making several requests" "As M. Victor Hughes is in Bordeaux at the moment, I am taking advantage of a corsair [ship] that is leaving for Guyana to tell you how grateful I am for the care you have taken in decorating the garden and dressing room of my house. You had sent me a bird whose name I do not remember, but which was remakable for its domestic character, and by its ability to distinguish strangers from familiars...This bird died during the voyage; I would be charmed if you could replace it and send me...other birds...Also could you please ask Mr. Martin whether, without disturbing the collection of plants that he intends for me, he could possibly send me some duplicates. This is quite a number of requests, but I am all the more happy to [make them as]...it gives me the possibility of renewing the assurance of my warmest sentiments towards you..."
In 1809, Napoleon had his marriage to Josephine declared null and void. The former Empress lived out the rest of her life at her private retreat, the chateau La Malmaison, just outside of Paris. The gardens she cultivated there were celebrated worldwide for the extraordinary variety of rare species they contained. She created the first rose gardens in France, containing every species of rose then known and grew many rare lilies of various types. She assiduously collected plants from all over the world, and in 1803 and 1804 alone some two hundred exotic species from remote habitats bloomed at La Malmaison for the first time.
JOSEPHINE ASKS FOR EXOTIC PLANTS AND A BIRD FROM THE AMERICAS FOR HER HOUSE AND GARDEN AT MALMAISON
A warm letter attesting to the persistence of one of the great gardeners. Just a year before her divorce from Napoleon Bonaparte, the Empress (who had grown up on Martinique in the Caribbean) forwards a letter to a friend bound for the French colonies in America, making several requests" "As M. Victor Hughes is in Bordeaux at the moment, I am taking advantage of a corsair [ship] that is leaving for Guyana to tell you how grateful I am for the care you have taken in decorating the garden and dressing room of my house. You had sent me a bird whose name I do not remember, but which was remakable for its domestic character, and by its ability to distinguish strangers from familiars...This bird died during the voyage; I would be charmed if you could replace it and send me...other birds...Also could you please ask Mr. Martin whether, without disturbing the collection of plants that he intends for me, he could possibly send me some duplicates. This is quite a number of requests, but I am all the more happy to [make them as]...it gives me the possibility of renewing the assurance of my warmest sentiments towards you..."
In 1809, Napoleon had his marriage to Josephine declared null and void. The former Empress lived out the rest of her life at her private retreat, the chateau La Malmaison, just outside of Paris. The gardens she cultivated there were celebrated worldwide for the extraordinary variety of rare species they contained. She created the first rose gardens in France, containing every species of rose then known and grew many rare lilies of various types. She assiduously collected plants from all over the world, and in 1803 and 1804 alone some two hundred exotic species from remote habitats bloomed at La Malmaison for the first time.