DROVETTI BERNARDINO: (1776-1852) Italian-born French Diplomat, Politician, Archaeologist and antiquities collector. ...

DROVETTI BERNARDINO: (1776-1852) Italian-born French Diplomat, Politician, Archaeologist and antiquities collector. Drovetti is best-remembered for his acquisition of the Turin Royal Canon and for his Egyptian discoveries. He remains a controversial figure for his unscrupulous behaviour in his conduct towards his discoveries in Egypt. Rare A.L.S., `Drovetti´, with flourish, one page, 4to, Toulon, 8th May 1803, to Monsieur Balthalon in Marseille, in French. At the time of the present letter Drovetti had been recently appointed by Napoleon as French Consul-general of Egypt and was about to embark at Toulon to Alexandria, stating in part `..we will embark tomorrow,.. as soon as the wind will take a favourable direction for our crossing…´, further referring to various matters `..it seems to me difficult that you could send to me at the same time the small uniform I was asking you, I will then receive the whole on the same occasion, and if possible at all, the pendulum… I would kindly ask you to join to that junk an Italian & French dictionary of the Marseille edition…´ With address leaf in his hand, with an ink stamp above of Toulon. Paper with a Montgolfier Annonay watermark. Very small overall minor creasing, otherwise VG Drovetti obtained the French nationality and joined the French Grande Armée. As an official, during the French campaign in Egypt 1798-99, he distinguished himself by saving the life of Napoleon´s Marshal Joachim Murat. He later became the French Consul-General of Egypt during both the Empire until 1814 and the Bourbon Restoration 1820-29.