WEILAND, Carl Ferdinand Lot n° 189

Representation of the uniforms of the Imperial and Royal French Army and its allies in the year 1812 [S. l.], [1812] Very rare suite of 150 plates in period colours. Precious historical document on the uniforms of the great army before the Russian campaign. "We do not believe that there exists in France a single complete collection of this work". (glasser, p. 415) First edition 1 volume in-4 and the rest of the isolated plates in a portfolio (230 x 170 mm for the book, 215 x 190 for the isolated plates) Illustration: 88 bound plates and 62 isolated plates, i.e. 150 plates enhanced with a beautiful gouache colour, silvered and illuminated 19th century binding. Brown spine, paper plates. Leatherette box. Portfolio for the isolated plates Rarity: no copy on sale since 1977 Some shorter plates, a few stains This suite is a great rarity since Glasser only lists the copy of the Royal Library of Brussels. The bibliographical imprecision dominates. Glasser claims 148 plates. The Polaillon copy has 150 plates but duplicates are possible between the bound series and the single plates. The rarity and the forced incompleteness are undeniable since Glasser's copy himself had only 61 plates. The copy in the National Library at the time of Glasser had only 99 plates. References: Glasser, Military Costumes. Catalogue of the main suites of French military costumes..., 1900, pp. 415-420 -- Colas 3061