Of Napoleonic Interest - 4 Book Set of French Text Decorative Bindings - Le Memorial De St Helene by Emmanuel Le Comte De Las Cases - Circa 1920

Las Cases (1766-1842) was an atlas maker and author who was amongst Napoleon Buonaparte's small retinue who voluntarily accompanied him on his exile to the remote island of St Helena, off the west coast of Africa, following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. Las Cases, initially secretary to Napoleon, became his confidant and keep journals of their almost daily conversations on the former Emperor's life, his career, his political philosophy, and the conditions of his exile. The work was first published in 1823, after Napoleon's death, and was an immediate and continuing success entering the popular imagination as something akin to Napoleon's own personal and political testament and as such became a foundling text in the development of the cult and ideology of Bonapartism.

This 4 volume set is undated but likely to have been published in the 1920's with very decorative mottled tan coloured leather spines which feature the neo-classical emblems of the palmette and anthemion with the Imperial Eagle and bee, the latter which Napoleon chose as the emblem to represent the Empire. There are also gilt edged red bands and the title labels are gilt on a green leather ground. The covers are part leather and part marbled paper as are the front and rear paste downs. Published by the renown Parisian publisher Garnier Freres.

All four volumes are in very good antiquarian condition overall although there is some rubbing to the extremities of the paper tot he boards, especially to the corners and the pages internally are aged toned. The gilt to he top edge of the pages is somewhat rubbed and has some marks. Please bear in mind these books are in the original FRENCH text.

The approximate dimensions are 18.5cms high, 12.1cms deep and whilst they vary slightly in width the length of the run of all four volumes is some 13cms.

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