ANTOMMARCHI (Francesco). Mémoires ..., ou les... Lot 42

ANTOMMARCHI (Francesco). Mémoires [...], ou les derniers momens de Napoléon. À Paris, chez barrois l'aîné, 1825. 2 volumes in-8, (4)-iv-470-(2 of which the last is blank) + (4 of which the last is blank)-460 pp. in blond half calf, spine with large ribbed bands decorated with brown and gilt motifs, black title and greefer, marbled edges (period binding). ORIGINAL EDITION, WITH AUTOGRAPHIC SIGNATURE OF THE AUTHOR under the justification on the verso of the title of the first volume. The work was printed by Armand-Louis-Jean Fain, brother of Napoleon I's private secretary Agathon-Jean-François Fain (Tulard, no. 28). The dedication is addressed "to Corsica, which gave birth to him and which he still cherishes". An extensive appendix of around 200 pages is devoted to describing the flora of St. Helena. There is a very rare atlas of 4 accompanying plates, published separately. DOCTOR ANTOMMARCHI (1789-1838), a native of Morsiglia in Corsica, was NAPOLEON'S LAST DOCTOR ON THE ISLAND OF SAINT HELENE from September 1819, and performed his autopsy. Full of himself, albeit with little medical talent, he gave himself the good part in his memoirs. Once back in Europe, he sold copies of Napoleon I's death mask, taken with his colleague Dr. Burton, in large numbers. Unable to consolidate his position with the Bonaparte family, he left for Cuba, where he practiced medicine for a while, before dying of yellow fever. A FINE COPY.