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Description
[EMPIRE]
1803–1815..
Manuscript entitled ‘Itinéraires & Campagnes’.
In-8 (20.4 x 12.3 cm), fawn calfskin, gilt decorative borders on the covers, plain spine decorated with gilt motifs, red title label, gilt edges (contemporary binding).
108 handwritten folios.
Written by an officer (lieutenant?) of a Dragoon regiment, the manuscript is divided into several parts: the ‘Itineraries’ comprise five journeys, from 1803 to 1807; these are followed by the ‘Campaigns’, from 1808 to 1815; and finally, after some ‘Notes’, come the ‘Journeys undertaken’ from 1816 to 1820.
The ‘Itineraries’ and ‘Journeys’ document travels in France, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Transylvania (Romania), Wallachia (Romania), Bulgaria, Turkey, Slavonia (Croatia), Croatia and Italy.
The Campaigns took place in France, Spain and Germany. After the fall of the Empire, our traveller travelled to the Netherlands, Belgium and travelled throughout France.
The ‘Notes’ section provides further details on the military events he encountered: ‘The Spanish regiment from Villa Viciosa, which was in Denmark with us, was utterly routed at El Bravo’, ‘The King’s triumphant entry into Madrid; on the Emperor’s feast day’, ‘We took Colonel Don Juan Espino, commanding 400 cavalry, by surprise: we captured some of them and forced the rest to retreat. I was wounded in this engagement by a gunshot to my left arm whilst leading my platoon in a charge against an enemy detachment, the majority of whom I took prisoner ’. There is a lengthy account of the incident that took place under General Girard’s command on 28 October 1811 near Arroyo-Molinos. Whilst most of the details concern the Spanish campaigns, there are also references to the German campaign (1813): ‘the famous Battle of Wackau’, ‘we were attacked at 2 o’clock in the afternoon by Austrian and Baden troops. I lost 30 men and 45 horses from my squadron […]’.
The last third of the volume remains blank.
Upper edge completely split; edges and corners rubbed.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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