Madame Sidney Pratten - early 19th century French guitar, unlabelled; Back and sides: satinwood, two small repaired cracks to the upper bout, further repaired cracks to the treble waist; Top: fine grained spruce with multi string banding to the edges and soundhole, many repaired cracks; Neck: ebonised; Fretboard: ebony; Frets: good; Hardware: brass tuning strips inscribed 'Domet' and with shaped buttons; Case: ebonised case with red felt interior in deteriorating condition; Overall condition: fair/restored *Sold with old papers relating to Napoleon Bonaparte with an envelope hand inscribed 'Napoleon's General No. 10 Captaine Bacheville gave my father (Ferdinand Pelzer) this guitar, as a relic, he being a pupil of my father, & had a real love for him, as he played the guitar so splendidly - it was over my fathers bed for many year, Guilia Pelzer'; also including an old black and white photograph of the guitar and a black and white engraving of Ferdinand Pelzer holding a similar guitar **Sold in a Sotheby's auction in 1938, lot 211, claiming it to be 'Napoleon Bonaparte's guitar'. Later sold at a Christies sale in 1978 as part of lot 18 Ask a Question

• Auction Details