BERKA, Johann Lot n° 17

L'Armée française représentée en 18 [12] feuilles Prague, François Zimmer, [circa 1810] The rarest of the suites of colour engravings on Napoleon 's army First edition In-4 (251 x 172mm) Collation and illustration: engraved title and 12 (out of 18) engraved plates enhanced with period colouring Binding signed by Lemardeley. Spine of red morocco, head gilt, plates mounted on tabs and not trimmed Rarity: to our knowledge, no copy on sale, even incomplete since 1977 Restoration at the corner of a plate without damage to the text, the number [1]8 on the title page has been scratched off and replaced by [1]2 to give the impression of the completeness of the work "This collection, although mediocre from an artistic point of view, gives very interesting details on the dress of the French troops around 1809. There is no complete copy of it (at least to our knowledge) either at the National Library, at the Beaux-Arts Library, or in the main collections in Paris". And Glasser only lists the copy of Prince Victor Napoleon. The copy of Gustave de Ridder entered by donation to the Cabinet des Estampes in 1945. References: Glasser, Military Costumes. Catalogue des principales suites de costumes militaires français..., 1900, pp. 61-62 -- Colas 303 -- http://www.napoleon-online.de/uniformserien_zeitgenossen.html