Histoire de Napoleon by Norvins

OVERALL CONDITION: Good

Published by Ambroise Dupont in Paris in 1827 in contemporary and possibly original 1/4 leather over marbled paper covered boards. First edition. Volume I only of IV. Spine bands, compartments ruled in gilt and gilt lettering. Blind stamped emblems. Marbled endpapers. Octavo, xxiv + 453 + (1)pp. Illustrated throughout with maps, folding plans, battle plans and portraits. Written in French. True first edition. Collated and complete including blank flyleaves and page of ads. Compete first edition sets typically run from $400-600.

ABOUT THE BOOK & AUTHOR

Emigrating in 1792, Jacques de Norvins, Baron de Marquet de Montbreton (1769-1854) returned to France under the Directory, but he was arrested after the coup d'état of 18 Fructidor. Thanks to the intervention of Madame de Staël, Napoleon Bonaparte had him released after 18 Brumaire. He therefore had great admiration for the future emperor, which is reflected in the first line of his book by this profession of faith: “Napoleon has been the study of my life since the 18th of Brumaire”.

The defeat at Waterloo temporarily ended his administrative career, and gave him time to gather his memories and documentation to write a history of Napoleon, focusing above all on describing the character of "this extraordinary man". Nowadays, it is less the text that interests you than the fabulous work of the designer carried out by Raffet, and transcribed on plates by meticulous engravers. Vignettes, banners, out-of-text plates make this work a magnificent album. The scenes belong to several registers: battles, bivouac life, crowds in the street, popular jubilations, still lifes, or even portraits of the imperial family and great dignitaries.

CONDITION DESCRIPTION:

The book is in Good condition. As this is either the original binding or early 19th century binding, there is quite a bit of rubbing to boards, spine and extremities. The binding is tight with firm hinges and joints. The interior is foxed throughout. Signs of handling on pages. Several of the fold-out maps have tears. Offsetting, particularly from the plates.

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