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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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  • Retreat of Napoleon's Grand Army from Russia cover
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Retreat of Napoleon's Grand Army from Russia cover

Object Details

Description
In 1812 an Italian soldier in Napoleon's multinational Grand Armee---the largest fighting force Europe had ever seen---wrote this letter home from Prussia during the army's retreat from Russia. Only a third of the men survived. The brown military postal marking, used during the retreat, is rare.
Data Source
National Postal Museum
Date
December 14, 1812
Object number
1983.0780.119
Type
Covers & Associated Letters
Medium
paper; ink (black, brown)
Dimensions
Height x Width x Depth: 3 3/8 x 4 1/8 x 1/8 in. (8.5 x 10.5 x 0.3 cm)
Place
FRANCE (republic)
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
On View
Currently on exhibit at the National Postal Museum
Topic
Covers & Letters
Record ID
npm_1983.0780.119
Usage
CC0
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8bc938551-caca-483d-b9ae-38c6610a98bd
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Plan a Visit

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Admission is always free!

2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

The museum's main entrance is located on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE. Other entrances have variable hours.

street map of Postal museum

Learn more
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Owney, the Railway Mail Service Mascot

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