P. M. Laurent de L'Ardèche - Geschiedenis van Keizer Napoleon - 1840

‘Geschiedenis van Keizer Napoleon’ by P.M. Laurent de L'Ardèche, decorated with five hundred images after the drawings by Horace Vernet, 1840.

Napoleon from the cradle to the grave and beyond, including a complete description of his will, an overview of all his signatures and the chapter (at the time separately available) ‘Opgraving en overbrenging van het lijk van Keizer Napoleon naar Parijs’.

Richly illustrated biography of Napoleon published at the time of the first major Napoleon revival. The French government of ‘people’s king’ Louis Philippe took a ride on that and tried to boost his waning popularity by having Napoleon’s body return from his exile on Saint Helena to France. Paris celebrated his return on 15 December 1840. The many wood engravings in this book were made by the at that time very popular painter Horace Vernet (1789-1863).

Re-bound in sturdy leather bindings with the preservation of the original spine titles. The binding is in great condition. The text block is complete with all five hundred engravings. Multiple pages with foxing. A few pages have browned. Volume 2 has some pages at the start and end with some fraying on the edges. Some pages are somewhat fragile. Volume 1 also has some pages with a certain degree of fraying, halfway the book and towards the end. Sporadic restorations (tape). Textually bright and clear. Very well readable.

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Dimensions: 26.5 x 17 x 4.5-5 cm.

A weight of 2.8 kilograms without packaging.