La Légende de l'Aigle

New edition and first illustrated. Copy on chine paper, finest paper with duplicate suites, expanded with an original watercolor. The first edition, published in 1893, was subtitled: Epic poem in twenty tales. The work is illustrated with 61 compositions engraved on wood after François Thévenot: 8 captioned plates. 20 headpieces. 32 text illustrations. 1 cover illustration. Limited to 351 numbered copies. This is one of 25 (no. 21) on chine containing a separate printing on chine and a separate printing on japan pelure mounted on chine. Copy expanded with an original watercolor signed F. Thévenot and two prospectuses for the work, one on chine and the other on vellum.
Binding in full green straight-grained morocco signed at bottom of front pastedown Noulhac (1902), wide frame composed of fillets, compartments, vegetal ornaments and imperial symbols (eagle and bee), raised spine decorated, author's name, title, place of publication and date gilt, double fillet on headcaps and leading edges, decorative gilt board-edges composed of fillets, vegetal ornaments and imperial symbols (eagle and bee), doublure and endpapers of moiré silk and marbled paper, edges gilt retaining deckled edges, original wrappers preserved.
Light rubbing to corners without consequence; some foxing, sometimes heavy at beginning of volume on certain leaves.
Magnificent copy, bound in exceptional leather.
Inspired by the Napoleonic era, the texts in this collection are largely scenes of military life.