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PRUCHE.
Album de la Garde Impériale.
The Imperial Guard (French: Garde Impériale) was originally a small group of elite soldiers of the French Army under the direct command of Napoleon I but grew considerably over time. It acted as his bodyguard and tactical reserve, and he was careful of its use in battle. This beautiful album displays their uniforms, weapons and officers.
- Published
- Paris: Alphonse Désesserts, n.d 1850?
- References
- Not in French Union Catalog nor in National Library of France
- Plates
- 29
- Binding/Size
- Xs=12mo
- Value
- 0-5000
- Published
- Paris: Alphonse Désesserts, n.d 1850?
- Ref
- 232
Small octavo. It contains 29 hand-coloured plates lithograph military costume plates by the lithographic firm of Destouches in Paris. In the original stiff wrappers, they are beautifully preserved. Hand-coloured Imperial Eagle on upper wrap. Loose in a full blue silk cloth binding. Occasionally finger soiled surface of some plates blemishes in places, first and last, pages browned, but a beautiful, desirable copy with all plates now protected with leaves of pH-balanced acid-free Renaissance archival paper. FIRST EDITION. These exquisite mid-19th-century plates of military uniforms are coloured by a contemporary hand with rich, dense dyes more opaque than transparent. They are delicately heightened with delicate touches of egg-white, adding richness and elegance to the darker tones. Cracked with age, this natural varnish gives the plates the depth and charm of an old Renaissance painting. RARE. Not a single copy is located on KVK or OCLC worldwide. Coloured plates in order: 1. General de Division. 2. Officier de Cuirassiers. 3. Officier de Gendarmes d'Elite. 4. Voltigeur. 5. Zouave. 6. Gendarme a pied. 7. Chirurgien - major (Petit Tenue). 8. Chasseur a pied. 9. Tambour de voltigeurs. 10. Grenadier a pied. 11. Chef - de - Musique de Grenadiers. 12. Sapeur - mineur, Regiment du genie. 13. Officier du Genie (Petit Tenue). 14. Porte - Etendard des Guides. 15. Vivandiere. 16. Clarion de Zoaves. 17. Cent - Garde. 18. Artillerie a cheval, Officier. 19. Sapeur de Gendarmes a pied. 20. Officier de Zouaves et de Chasseurs a pied. 21. Guide (Petit Tenue). 22. Porte - Drapeau de Grenadiers. 23. Artillerie a cheval, Canonnier. 24. Gendarme d'Elite, ou des Chasses. 25. Trompette de Cuirassiers (Petit tenue). 26. Capitaine d'Etat - major. 27. Officier de Voltigeurs. 28. Tambour - major de Grenadiers. 29. Cent - Garde (Petit tenue).
