NAPOLEON I (1769-1821). Emperor of the French.
Fine Document Signed ('Bonaparte') with an autograph sentence written from Malta, 1 page folio with vignette heading, Malta, 30 prairial an VI [18 June 1798]. To the naval commissaire at Malta, ordering a building to house sixteen horses and two coaches.
Napoleon had arrived on Malta, en route to capture Egypt, on 9 June 1798, and had demanded admission to the Grand Harbour at Valletta. He landed troops ashore the next day. The Grand Master of the Order of St John capitulated on 11 June, thus bringing to an end the Order's rule of the island, which had lasted since their first arrival there on 26 October 1530.
 Napoleon himself spent only one week on Malta, departing on 19 June, and documents signed by him during this period of a great rarity.
 The document is slightly foxed as is usual with paper on which an engraved plate has been imposed.
[No: 21862]