Beautés, victoires, batailles et combats mémorables des armées françaises; suivis d'anecdotes, mots héroïques, et traits de dévouement des militaires français, depuis 1792 jusqu'en 1815
M. L*** (Charles-Malo)
📚 Genre
Historical Non-fiction / Military History
🏢 Publisher
Chez Le Prieur, Libraire (Paris)
📅 Publication Year
1819
🔢 ISBN
None (Pre-ISBN era)
About This Book
A celebratory military chronicle of the French armies during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1792-1815). The text focuses on anecdotes of heroism, notable battles, and patriotic devotion. The title page is accompanied by a neoclassic copperplate engraving frontispiece titled 'La Victoire Les Couronne', depicting allegorical figures of Victory and Fame crowning figures in military attire.
Book Details
Language
French
Pages
Approximately 350-450 pages (standard for Tome I of this set)
Edition
Early Edition (Tome I of a multi-volume set)
Series
Tome I (Volume 1). This work was typically completed in 2 volumes.
Target Audience
Adult / Historians / 19th-century General Readership
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Good. Visible foxing and surface staining on the title page and frontispiece. Softening and rubbing to the page edges. Significant hinge wear or binding loosening is likely given the age and the 'spread' of the gutter. Typical of a 200-year-old trade binding.
Estimated Value
$50 - $120 USD (This estimate is for a single volume; the complete 2-volume set in better condition typically sells for $200-$300).
Rarity
Uncommon. While standard French military histories from the early 19th century were printed in decent numbers, finding original 1819 editions with all engravings intact and in acceptable condition is becoming increasingly difficult.
Historical Significance
Published shortly after the fall of Napoleon and the Restoration of the Bourbons, books like this served to maintain national pride and the cult of the French military during a period of occupied sovereignty and political transition.
Collector Notes
Collectibility is heavily dependent on the presence and condition of the 24 engravings mentioned on the title page. Check for missing plates and damp staining. Because this is only Tome I, its value is significantly reduced if the matching Tome II is missing. Collectors should look for original calfskin or vellum bindings; if rebound in modern cloth, value drops. Store in a low-humidity environment to prevent further foxing.
Similar Books
Histoire de l'empereur Napoléon by P.-M. Laurent de l'Ardèche; Campagnes des Français sous le Consulat et l'Empire by F. de Carion-Nisas; Memoirs of the Life, Exile, and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon by Emmanuel de Las Cases.
Notable Features
Includes 24 copperplate engravings ('en-taille-douce') as stated on title page. Neoclassical frontispiece and monogram printer's mark.