Kolbe & Fanning
Auction 159 6 Mar 2021
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Very Rare Early Listing of Napoleonic Medals
Bigi, Horace. COLLECTION DE MÉDAILLES DES CAMPAGNES ET DU RÈGNE DE L'EMPEREUR NAPOLÉON, DEPUIS SA PREMIÈRE CAMPAGNE D'ITALIE, EN 1796, JUSQ'A SON ABDICATION, EN 1815. (Paris, c. 1828). 12mo, later plain paper covers. 16 pages; 185 listings. Near fine. Very rare: we have handled only one copy of a later printing of this work (dated 1828), but the present lot consists of the earlier, anonymously published version. Apparently produced to accompany a set of medals (bronzed plaster impressions), the descriptions are remarkably extensive for what is essentially a sales brochure, and its early date of publication makes it of considerable interest. Laid into this copy is a photocopy of part of a letter from David Block to Richard Margolis dated August 29, 1991, is which the two issues of this publication are discussed. Engel & Serrure 584 (attributing authorship to Bi and dating it 1815).
Bigi, Horace. COLLECTION DE MÉDAILLES DES CAMPAGNES ET DU RÈGNE DE L'EMPEREUR NAPOLÉON, DEPUIS SA PREMIÈRE CAMPAGNE D'ITALIE, EN 1796, JUSQ'A SON ABDICATION, EN 1815. (Paris, c. 1828). 12mo, later plain paper covers. 16 pages; 185 listings. Near fine. Very rare: we have handled only one copy of a later printing of this work (dated 1828), but the present lot consists of the earlier, anonymously published version. Apparently produced to accompany a set of medals (bronzed plaster impressions), the descriptions are remarkably extensive for what is essentially a sales brochure, and its early date of publication makes it of considerable interest. Laid into this copy is a photocopy of part of a letter from David Block to Richard Margolis dated August 29, 1991, is which the two issues of this publication are discussed. Engel & Serrure 584 (attributing authorship to Bi and dating it 1815).