NAPOLEON III'S LAST PENHOLDER Wooden penholder with silver mounting and gilded nib marked "Joseph GILLOTT". Length: 18.5 cm Accompanied by a note on the letterhead of "Camden Place Chislehurst" in the hand of the Emperor's secretary Franceschini Pietri: "Pen last used by the Emperor on 2 January 1873 between 9 and 10 am. Pietri". Accompanied by a second handwritten note on the letterhead "Le Prince Murat. 27 boulevard Beauséjour (17 avenue Vion Whitcomb) Paris XVI": "Dernier porte-plume dont s'est servi S.M. l'Empereur Napoléon III le 2 janvier 1873 (collection de S.A. le Prince Murat)". B.E. Origin : - Jean-Baptiste "Tito" Franceschini-Pietri, private secretary to Emperor Napoleon III, the Imperial Prince and Empress Eugenie ; - Collection of the Princes Murat. - Former Forbes collection, lot 189. A Napoleon III's last penholder Commentary: This feather was used by Emperor Napoleon III on the day of Sir Henry Thompson's important first operation under chloroform to start his kidney stone. In view of the poor results, a second operation was carried out on the 6th. The Emperor died as a result of the operation on the 9th.