NAPOLEON IV: (1856-1879) Prince Imperial, the only child of Emperor Napoleon III and his Empress consort Eugenie de Montijo. Extremely rare signed twice 4.5 x 6.5 sepia cabinet photograph, the Alexander Bassano unusual and attractive image depicting the Prince standing in a full-length formal pose. Signed `Napoleon´ in black fountain pen ink to the lower white border of the photograph. Dated beneath his signature in his hand 28th Juillet 1877 [London]. Also signed and inscribed in bold black fountain pen ink by Napoleon IV to the verso `Mr. R. Lavaurs, souvenir affectueux, Napoleon´. Bearing also the the verso the printed photographer´s logo "Alexander Bassano, 72 Piccadilly - London. (Now at 25 Old Bond street". Prince Imperial Napoleon Bonaparte died at the very early age of 23, killed by Zulus during the Zulu War. VG

Raymond Lavaurs (1846-1927) Count Lavaurs. Founder of the Peñarroya company which exploits lead mines in Morocco, and brother in law of Adrien Bizot, a very close friend of Prince Napoleon IV.