History of the Consulate and the Empire of France Under Napoleon.

THIERS, Louis Adolphe.

Item Number: 96141

London: Chatto & Windus, 1893-1894.

Extra-illustrated edition of Louis Adolphe Thiers’ history of France under Napoleon Bonaparte. Octavos, 12 volumes. Elaborately bound in three quarters contemporary morocco by Bayntun Bindery over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, emblematic gilt spine compartments, raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Originally issued with 36 steel engravings, this extra-illustrated edition contains 120 additional plates, including 12 colored engraved frontispieces with tissue guards. In near fine condition with light wear to the extremities, plates exceptionally clean and bright.

In addition to acting as a key figure in the July Revolution of 1830, French statesman and historian Adolphe Thiers was a notable literary figure, best known for the present History of the Consulate and Empire Under Napoleon Bonaparte as well as a highly successful ten-volume history of the French Revolution. The History of the Consulate and Empire took Thiers fifteen years to complete, requiring the reading and re-reading of the nearly thirty thousand letters which composed Napoleon's personal correspondence.