Napoleon's boots up for auction in Paris

W/S Napoleon's Boots exhibited ahead of auction, Paris
M/S Boots *NO AUDIO*
W/S Boots
M/S Boots
C/U Boots
SOT, Arnaud de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Cabinet Jean-Clause Dey Expert (French): "These are boots that correspond to the epochal representations of Emperor Napoleon I in the countryside, that's what is extremely impressive. It's part of the Emperor's silhouette, that is, the hat, the frock coat and the leather riding boots, cut out on the top. We can see here the fasteners that are inside. We are in the legend, we are in the man of war."
C/U Boot
SOT, Arnaud de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Cabinet Jean-Clause Dey Expert (French): "26.5 - 27 centimetres, which corresponds to the current 40. Historians have confirmed that this corresponds to the size of the Emperor Napoleon I. You have small variations because it's leather, a material that moves.
The boots are in very good conditions, a little worn because they have been used but they are in very good condition."
C/U Boots
SOT, Arnaud de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Cabinet Jean-Clause Dey Expert (French): "These boots were lent by [General] Bertrand to the sculptor Mario Marochetti who is to make an equestrian statue of the Emperor Napoleon I in military uniform. So he asks for these boots for realism and then they were given by the son of the sculptor to Senator Leroux. That's how these boots came to us."
C/U Boots
SOT, Alexandre Giquello, Auctioneer (French): "The historical mementoes of Napoleon I are very popular. They will go on public sale in Drouot (Paris), November 29th. They will be presented for sale with an estimate between 50,000 and 80,000 euros."
C/U Boot's sole
SOT, Alexandre Giquello, Auctioneer (French): "From experience, I know that this audience is extremely international. There are of course many amateurs in France, but also many abroad especially in the Asian countries where Napoleon represents the ultimate symbol of courage, daring, martial intelligence and all the qualities very popular in those countries. There are also Americans, Russians, traditionally very attached to the figure of the emperor."
C/U Boots *NO AUDIO*
M/S Boots *NO AUDIO*
W/S Boots *NO AUDIO*
W/S Boots *NO AUDIO*
M/S Sign: "Drouot, Paris, Auction House"
W/S Auction house
SCRIPT
Leather boots believed to have been worn by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in his St. Helena exile are being exhibited in Paris' Drouot auction house until the highest bidder takes them home.
Footage shot on Wednesday shows the boots, which are estimated to be a current EU size 40 (7 US).
According to historians the boots were lent to sculptor Mario Marochetti, who was commissioned to create a statue of the emperor on horseback. The sculptor's son subsequently gifted the boots to French politician Paul Le Roux, a minister under Bonaparte's nephew Napoleon III. The boots were kept by Le Roux's family since.
"From experience, I know that this audience is extremely international. There are of course many amateurs in France, but also many abroad especially in the Asian countries where Napoleon represents the ultimate symbol of courage, daring, martial intelligence and all the qualities very popular in those countries," stated auctioneer Alexandre Giquello, adding that he estimates that the boots will go for "between 50,000 (55,018 USD) and 80,000 (88,029 USD) euros."
The auction of the boots is set to be held on 29 November.