Postes Impériales. État général par order alphabétique des routes de poste de l’empire français, du royame d’ Italie, de la confédération du Rhin 1813

Paris, 1813

aris, 1812

13 x 25cm

First edition

Bound in full crimson morocco leather with gilt bees and encircled capital ‘N’s on spine, gilt arms of the Emperor Napoleon on the front and back covers, with the corners having crowns over capital ‘N’s for Napoleon. Blue silk end papers.

During the ealry 19th century Postes Impériales were essential for the traveller in France as they named the towns that had posts or relays with a regular supply of post-horses and guides for travellers. France was the first country to have these kinds of publications due to her strong centralised government. As the road system developed, the volumes increased in detailed and eventually provided information for travelling throughout Europe, or as in this book, France, Italy and parts of Germany.

Napoleon's various libraries have been broken up and scattered but the most complete is the Library at Fontainebleau. Here most the books are still in place and ordered according to a ranking that had been adopted in all residences of the Emperor. The works are divided into fifteen categories each identifiable by a letter of the alphabet inscribed in golden bronze in the upper part of the bookcases. The prominence was on history with ten categories including ancient history and modern political history, military history, the history of France, the countries of Europe, and countries outside Europe. In this library there are nearly 4,500 works. Napoleon chose almost all the books for his exile during the farewell at Fontainebleau and the departure for the island of Elba in April 1814.

Napoleon’s library at Fontainbleau