NAPOLEON AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES, 1833, WITH 46 FINELY ENGRAVED ILLUSTRATIONS

(NAPOLEON) CHAMBURE, Auguste de. Napoleon et Ses Contemporains. Paris: Gustave Ducasse, 1833. Quarto, modern three-quarter crimson morocco gilt, raised bands, olive morocco spine labels, marbled boards. $2600.

Early edition of this military officer's "historical sketches" of Napoleon and his contemporaries, with frontispiece portrait and 45 fine engravings depicting scenes from Napoleon's life and career, printed on papier de Chine and mounted, handsomely bound.

Auguste de Chambure was a colorful and charismatic officer who served throughout the Napoleonic wars; his name is engraved on the Arc de Triomphe. After being commissioned as a sous-lieutenant in 1806 at the age of 17, Chambure served in Prussia and Poland, where he was wounded. In 1809 he fought in Spain, where he was wounded at the Siege of Saragossa. Later that year he was promoted to lieutenant; the next year hebecame an aide-de-camp to his brother-in-law General Reynaud and he served at the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. His next major action came in May of 1811 when he fought at the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro where his right shoulder was shattered. In 1812 he returned to the army, and in February of 1813 he was promoted to captain and joined General Rapp's staff. Rapp was in charge of defending Danzig and Chambure served in the defense once the Coalition powers laid siege to it. He promptly made a name for himself by leading a company of volunteers known as the Infernal Company or the Lost Children in brilliant actions behind enemy lines, but in December 1813 they were forced to surrender Danzig, and Chambure was taken prisoner. After returning to France in 1814 after Napoleon's abdication, Chambure became an aide-de-camp to General Reynaud again. When Napoleon left exile and resumed power for the Hundred Days, Chambure rallied to him. In 1820 he received a pension as captain, but in 1830 he resumed his military career, working for Marshal Soult.

The 46 fine illustrations in this volume were engraved by Fauchery, Alfred et Tony Johannot, and others, after designs by Devéria, Steuben, Scheffer, Lami, and others: "Our first idea was to erect a monument which could attest to foreign nations the superiority of our school of engraving, and ensure for each of our artists the degree of renown deserved for his talent" (Chambure's foreword, translated). First published in 1824. Text in French. Vicaire II, 171. Brunet I, 1764 ("Ouvrage assez bien exécuté").

Occasional foxing. Fine condition, handsomely bound.