RAMOLINO LETIZIA: (1750-1836)

RAMOLINO LETIZIA: (1750-1836) Mother of Napoleon Bonaparte. Rare D.S., `Bonaparte Mère´, unusual in this form, three pages, 4to, Ajaccio, Corsica, 1st November 1801, in French. Ramolino has signed the manuscript letter at the base, beneath three handwritten lines in the hand of her brother Cardinal Fesch. The document relates to a credit that Letizia Ramolino endorses to her brother. The document states ´ A nome della Republica francese una ed indivisibile. Il citaddino Domenico Salini di questa cittá, cognito constituito & alla presenza di me notaio, e dei testimoni sottoscritti, sponte & ed in ogni miglior modo & per se i suoi eredi, e successori, ha confessato, e dichiarato, siccome dichiara, e confessa di essere vero, liquido, e real debitore della cittadina Maria Lettizia vedova Bonaparte presente, ed accetante me notaio & della somma e partita di lire due mila, e cento al corso di francia da esso prima d´ora avute e ricevute in tanti grossi scudi di francia, piastre, o siano pezze dure di Spagna, francesconi ed altre buone monete... giurando in forma e quindi detto cittadino Salini si obliga e promette rendere e restituire alla detta cittadina Lettizia Bonaparte...´ (Translation: " On behalf of the one and indivisible French Republic. The citizen Domenico Salini of this city, constituted and in the presence of me, the notary, and of the undersigned witnesses, spontaneously and in every best way and for himself his heirs and successors, has confessed and declared, as he declares and confesses to be true, liquid, and real debtor of the citizen Maria Lettizia widow Bonaparte present, and accepting me notary & of the sum and amount of two thousand lire, and one hundred at the French rate received from it before now and received in many large coins of France, or whether they are hard pieces of Spain, Franciscans and other good coins... by swearing in form and therefore said citizen Salini undertakes and promises to return to the said citizen Lettizia Bonaparte....") Signed at the base by the Notary Jean Joseph Pozzo di Borgo. Before Ramolino´s signature, her brother the Cardinal Fesch adds three lines in his hand, and on behalf of his siter states ` Io cedo il presente credito tanto per i frutti che per il capitale a mio fratello Fesch che me le ha rimborsati´ (Translation: " I assign the present credit both for the fruits and for the capital to my brother Fesch who has reimbursed it to me") Paper with watermark. Bearing to the bottom left corner a collection stamp of the former and prestigeous Lindesiana collection. Overall age wear, small staining, with small professional repair to the edges and fold. G