A SMALL MOROCCO LEATHER CARNET, FRENCH, CIRCA 1812 | A small morocco leather carnet, French, circa 1812

rectangular, with tooled borders, the front applied with a gold and blue enamel plaque, inscribed: Souvenir, the interior with an undated printed calendar, fastened by a turned boxwood dry point pencil, silk-lined, the first page with a quatrain dedicated to Queen Hortense, signed ‘par La Comtesse de Salm’, several pages with early nineteenth century comments and observations in pencil in different hands  

Some natural time wear, but generally in good order, the corners slightly bent.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

According to family tradition, this carnet belonged to Queen Hortense, sometime Queen of Holland, and the annotations are by the hand of Victor Napoléon, who was also the first one to publish the Mémoires de la Reine Hortense.