Armée des Souverains Alliés année 1815. [Army of the Allied Sovereigns]

Paris: Chez Martinet, 1815. Fourteen Magnificent Hand Colored Caricature Plates Depicting The Armies of the Allied Sovereigns

GODEFROY, Adrien. Armée des Souverains Alliés année 1815. [Army of the Allied Sovereigns] Paris: Chez Martinet, [1815].

First edition. Oblong folio (10 3/4 x 15 1/8 inches; 273 x 384 mm.). Fourteen magnificent hand colored engraved plates, each with several figures depicting officers from the armies of Russia, Prussia, England, Scotland, Austria, and France. Plates designed and etched by Adrien Godefroy, signed with his monogram 'AG', all mounted on stubs. Some occasional light, mainly marginal foxing, otherwise (truncated) the superb hand colored plates are bright and fresh.

Bound by L. Lemardeley ca. 1900 in half red morocco over marbled boards ruled in gilt. Spine with five raised bands, tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, top edge gilt, others uncut. A wonderful copy.

In the early years of the nineteenth century, the hand colored military caricatures that were issued were often out-of-print within a few days - sometimes a few hours!. After the event they became merely a historical record! The appearance of their famous contemporaries including rulers, generals, illustrious villains as well as scenes of bloody battles often played a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Remarkable examples of such engravings are contained in Adrien Godefroy's album Armée des Souverains Alliés année 1815. They were released by the Parisian publisher and bookseller Aaron Martinet (1762-1841). Armée des Souverains Alliés année 1815 is not only a wonderful collection of French caricature of the final period of the Napoleonic era but is also a 'time document' which tells how the peoples of Europe, after a long period of disunity and war, were able to look each other in the eye!!!!

OCLC locates just one copy in libraries and institutions worldwide: Brown University (RI, USA).
The British Museum copy has just thirteen of the plates (plus an additional unnumbered plate). The Royal Collection Trust has just nine of the plates.

Adrien-Pierre-Francois Godefroy (177-1865). Born in Paris, he was the son and pupil of Francois Godefroy (1743-1819) from whom he learnt the art of engraving. A very significant part of his work was in caricature.

The plates:

1. Officiers de l'Armée Russe.
2. Soldats de l'Armée Russe.
3. Officiers de l'Armée Prussienne.
4. Officiers de l'Armée Anglaise.
5. Discipline Militaire du Nord.
6. Régiments Ecossais.
7. Officiers Superieurs de l'Armée Anglaise.
8. Officiers de l'Armée Autrichienne.
9. Troupes Autrichiennes.
10. Militaires Russes.
11. Soldats Autrichiens.
12. Soldats de l'Armée Prussienne.
13. Soldats de l'Armée Anglaise.
14. Soldats Française de la Garde Royale.

Beraldi, Les Graveurs du XIX Siècle, p. 166; Colas, 1263; Hiler, p.383. (Inventory #: 05971)