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Item Type: Civic Collection

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Civic Collection

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This item is no longer under copyright in Australia and is in the public domain. It may be used freely. When using or sharing this item attribution should be given to the City of Sydney Archives.

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Lock of hair - Reputedly from the head of Napoléon Bonaparte, 1821

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Unique IDCC-000038Source system ID1988.182DateBetween 1st January 1821 and 31st December 1821Date qualifieryear onlyMediumPaperHairWaxDescriptionLock of hair reputedly from the head of Napoléon Bonaparte, taken from his deathbed on the island of Saint Helena in 1821 and carried to England with the news of his death by Captain William Crockat.

From a letter addressed to Mrs D Jamieson, 9 Danube Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh:

My dear Madam,
… I came accidentally upon the enclosed in looking through some of my papers. I had forgotten that I had promised to send you what it contains. I do not set much value upon such relics myself but if you consider it worth keeping as a curiosity you may depend on its being genuine. I got it from a lady whose brother was instructed with the despatches to this country on mourning Bonaparte’s death and if I mistake not she said that her brother (Major Crockat) had himself cut the lock from the head of the illustrious dead – Mrs J joins me in kindest regards to yourself, Miss B and Mr J.
I am my dear Madam Yours and truly Ned Tod
Balerno (Edinburgh, Scotland) 19 March 1840
Special citationLock of hair, reputedly from the head of Napoleon Bonaparte, 1821. City of Sydney Civic Collection.Height (in cm)28.5Width (in cm)38TypeHistory

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Subject tagsMemorabiliaNapoléon Bonaparte

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CollectionCivic Collection

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Lock of hair - Reputedly from the head of Napoléon Bonaparte, 1821