LAURENT (Paul-Mathieu). - Lot 81

LAURENT (Paul-Mathieu). History of Napoleon. Paris: J.J. Dubochet, 1840. - Large in-8, dark green half-maroquin with long grain and corners, ornate ribbed spine, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (Stroobants). A fine edition of this monograph on the Emperor Napoleon by Paul-Mathieu Laurent, known as Laurent de l'Ardèche (1793-1877), who helped build the Napoleonic legend. It details the Emperor's life from birth to death. The second edition is illustrated with over 400 woodcut vignettes in the text, after compositions by Horace Vernet, and a frontispiece engraved by Adrew Best and Leloir after Clerget, reproduced on the cover. This edition includes, in addition to the 1839 first edition, 45 color plates, including a frontispiece after Horace Vernet and 44 after Hippolyte Bellangé, depicting military costumes. A very fine copy bound in pamphlet by Stroobants. Spine very slightly faded. Some foxing and a few browned sections. Also included: - FIEFFÉ (Eugène). Napoleon I and the Imperial Guard. Paris: Furne fils, 1859. - In-4, green half-basane, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, speckled edges (period binding). First edition of this work published during the Second Empire, giving the history of the various corps that made up the Imperial Guard under Napoleon I. It is illustrated with 22 steel-engraved compositions based on drawings by Raffet, including a frontispiece, a title vignette on chine collé and 20 color plates depicting the emperor and the costumes of the various corps of his guard. Rubbing to spine and edges, corners dulled. Several plates browned.