"The Key to Napoleon's Room", circa 1815

Property of the descendants of William & Robert Adam
"The Key to Napoleon's Room"
circa 1815

a English steel door key together with a piece of paper inscribed in manuscript 'Key of the Room at Longwood, in which Napoleon died and which I took out of the lock myself / C. R. Fox, St Helena, 6th Sept. 1822' with a further outer envelope inscribed in manuscript 'Key of the Room at St Helena, in which Napoleon died & which I got there out of the door in 1822...' and a further piece of wrap of paper inscribed 'Bit of the Paper, close to the spot where Napoleon's bed, in which he died, stood / St Helena 1822 C.R. Fox'
key 13cm. long; 5in.

Condition Report:
The key is incredibly atmospheric. It is rusted and there is oxidisation and pitting to the surface. The ‘bow’, that’s the shaped metal oval to the top, is bent.
The prime note dated 1822 and signed by Fox is distressed, with holes and stained but writing legible. There are tears and creases and you can see where some of the rust has worn through the paper.
The small piece of folded paper also inscribed has a hole from the rust and is similar in condition.
The additional pale blue envelope which is dated 1862 has historic tears and small holes verso.
Condition is as per the images online.
The distress to this group is as to be as expected from a group of items stored for a considerable time.

Provenance:
By repute Longwood House, St Helena;

Charles Richard Fox (1796–1873);

Possibly for his mother Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Baroness Holland (1771–1845);

Thence by descent