Napoleon hats

Napoleon hats remain distinctive symbols within the world of historical fashion and military regalia, recognised for their commanding silhouette. As Emperor of France in the early 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte had an image closely associated with his bicorne hat, which was typically crafted from black beaver felt. Though most officers wore their hats pointing front to back, Napoleon wore his pointing sideways — known as ‘en bataille’ — making him immediately recognisable on the battlefield. These distinctive military hats are highly sought-after today, with Napoleon’s hat worn during the Campaign of 1807 sold by Christie's for £386,600 in 2015.


Attractive and valuable collection of Europe and Africa in 17 well-filled Yvert albums with issues to 1962, mostly mint but earlier issues either mint or used and includes Angola Birds set, Austria with Dolphus and 1950-53 Air set, Basutoland, Bechuanaland, good Belgium with 1915 5 "FRANKEN" mint (2), 1918 surcharge set, Tin Hat set and later, Belgian Congo 1886 set mint, Bulgaria, Denmark, Egypt, Finland from 1856, good serpentines, France 1849 to 1f., 1852 10c. and later Napoleon and Ceres Heads, Peace and Commerce, fine middle period with War Orphans and Sinking Funds, comprehensive French Colonies in two volumes, Gibraltar 1886 set, 1889 to 5p., K.E.VII #1 and K.G.V #1 (2), German States, Germany with better Large and Small Shields, 1899-1900 Reichpost 5m. used, Zeppelins, comprehensive mint sections of Berlin, West Germany with Posthorns and East Germany, Gold Coast 1902-09 20/-, 1921-25 15/- and #2 mint, Great Britain from 1840 including 1880 2/- brown good used, 1887 #1 good used and later #1 values for 1884, 1891, 1902, 1913, 1929 and fine early Q.E. definitives, Greece with a few earlier issues and many good middle period sets, Iceland including many 1921-30 surcharges, 1933 Balbo set, 1930 Official set, Ireland values to 10/- mint (6), Italy and Vatican with 1934 surcharges, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg 1935 Intellectuals and later, comprehensive Malta with Q.V. to 10/- and later issues to top values, Monaco 1919 War Orphans set mint, Netherlands with better mint issues including 1913 Centenary 10g., 1920 surcharges, 1923 Accession set, 1946 to 10g., 1949-50 set to 10g., 1951 Air pair, 1921 Marine Insurance set, Nigerias, Norway, Nyasaland 1903-04 #1 mint, 1908 #1 mint, 1913-22 #1 used, Portugal, Rhodesia, Rumania, volume of Russia, Saar, Sierra Leone, South Africa 1913-20 #1 mint, S.W.A., Spain, Sweden 1910-19 55ö. and 80ö. mint, U.P.U. sets mint, Switzerland, Turkey and many others with further selections in 15 stockbooks with some better items, some covers and miniature sheets in packets including France Pexip and Germany 1933 Welfare Fund. Condition is generally good to very fine throughout, including many of the classic stamps, whilst the large number of high value stamps and scarcer items distributed throughout add to the desirability of this magnificent collection.

SEVEN FRENCH SEALS AND STAMPS

Two Second Empire stamps, one displaying the Imperial eagle and inscribed GARDE IMPERIALE-DIVISION DE CAVALERIE-LE GENERAL COMMANDANT the other with the Imperial Arms and inscribed 2e REGIMENT DE CUIRASSIERS DE LA GARDE IMPERIALE-LE COLONEL; a wax seal of the Revolution period, bearing a trophy of arms and inscribed COMPAGNIE D'ARTILLERIE A CHEVAL; another wax seal, First Empire, with the Imperial eagle and COHORTE DE LA GARDE NATIONALE DU DEPARTMENT DE LESCAUT; a Restoration period civilian seal, bearing the arms of a nobleman; another civilian seal, late 19th century, with bronze handle, depicting Napoleon wearing his hat; and another late 19th century seal, showing an infantry soldier of the Revolution (7)

Aristide Barre (French, 1840-1922)

Napoleon standing, with hat off

Continental School, Late 19th Century

Portrait of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte (1768-1844), King of Naples 1806-1808 and King of Spain 1808-1813, and Portrait of Queen Marie-Julie Bonaparte (née Clary, 1771-1845): he, in gold-embroidered green coat and robes, wearing a red hat with white plumes; she, in blue dress with high collar and tiara