[Napoleon] 'The Spy glass belonging to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte', probably...

the ebonised boxwood spy glass with single brass draw, fitted with two lenses, mounted with a later silver band, engraved 'This glass belonging to Napoleon 1st was presented to Lady Clarence Paget by the English Consul at Elba October 1867', damages, lacking some elements

largest element 60mm, 45mm diameter
the two eye piece together 23mm long, 28mm diameter

Condition Report:
Atmospheric. The piece with historic damage and wear from use. The brass draw is stiff and detached from wooden eyepiece. The thread is very worn - it is not possible for this to be fixed into place. It is possible that there is a further securing element missing. Chips to eye piece, re-glued chip. Bruising and chips to eyepiece lens. The ebonised wood barrel with vertical age crack separation, there are some areas of filler, chips and marks, notably around the wood of the larger lens edge. Silver unmarked. An extraordinary object. Additional images available and recommended.

Catalogue Note:
A fascinating document1 reveals that Vice Admiral Lord Clarence Paget (1811-1895), a younger son of the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, the great hero at Waterloo, was Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Station (from 1866 to 1866) of the Royal Navy and on board his flagship HMS Caledonia which visited Elba in October 1867.

1 The National Archives (ADM 50/271), “Admirals’ Journals. Mediterranean Station. V. Admiral Lord Clarence E Paget, C in C Mediterranean."

Provenance:
Presented to Martha, Lady Paget (1821-1895) by the British Consul on Elba. Lady Martha Paget was a daughter-in-law of the 1st Marquess of Anglesey.