Charles NODIER. Journal de l'expédition des portes de fer. P - Lot 188

Charles NODIER. Journal de l'expédition des portes de fer. Paris, Imprimerie Royale, 1844. Large in-8, red morocco, wide right-hand framing of double fillets and a large gilt roulette, crowned numeral in the center of the boards, 5-rib spine richly decorated, interior lace (Capé). Olivier, pl. 2580, iron no. 4 / Vicaire, VI-140 /// (2f.)-XVI-329. First edition and first printing of the 200 woodcut illustrations by Raffet, Decamps and Dauzats by Brevière, Hébert, Lavoignat, Lavieille, etc., and a fold-out map. The illustrations comprise 160 vignettes in the text and 40 plates outside the text, printed on Chine monté, each with a captioned serpente. This beautiful publication was entrusted to the Imprimerie Royale. The copies were intended for members of the royal family, government dignitaries and all participants in the expedition. Copies are bound in cream cartonnage, chagrin or red morocco with special irons. A fine copy of the present drawn for M. Brun d'Aubignosc, the king's officer. It is bound in the crowned cipher of Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis, Duc d'Orléans, eldest son of Louis-Philippe and Queen Marie-Amélie. Born in 1810 and first Duke of Chartres, he took the title of Duke of Orléans in 1830 on his father's accession to the throne. He took part in the conquest of Algeria, where he remained until 1841. He died tragically in 1842, jumping from his carriage whose horses had bolted. The iron stamped on the volume is very similar to the one reproduced by Olivier on plate 2580 under number 4. The copy is further enriched by a portrait of the Duc d'Orléans engraved by Calamatta after Ingres and a loose leaf with original pencil sketches by Raffet. From the Descamps-Scrive (bookplate, II-1925, no. 286) and Roudinesco (bookplate, I-1967, no. 99) libraries.