Lot 26: FABER DU FAUR, CHRISTIAN WILHELM VON

FABER DU FAUR, CHRISTIAN WILHELM VON Blaetter aus meinem Portefeuille, im Laufe des Feldzugs 1812. in Russland an Ort und Stelle gezeichnet. Stuttgart: Ch. F. Autenrieth, [1831-1843] Oblong folio (16 3/4 x 23 1/4 in.; 425 x 590 mm). Lithographed title page, 100 lithographed plates by A. Gnauth, Emminger, Baumeister, & Kauffman after Faber du Faur, all hand-colored; left and right margins renewed in plate 2 mending crease tear touching edge of plate, plates 23 & 58 a bit short, plates 3 & 54 laid down with two tears in upper margin of 54 entering image, a few other marginal tears, plates 94 & 95 (which are joined) laid down on linen. Contemporary black pebbled cloth with gilt lettered title on upper cover; rebacked in three-quarter dark green crushed morocco gilt with new endleaves.

Lipperheide Qo9 (that copy lacking 60 plates)

Christie's 15 October 1986, lot 35 (unnamed consignor)

Magnificent hand-colored copy of these views of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon's army.

Faber du Faur (1780-1857) was a lieutenant in the Second Foot Artillery Battery of the Württemburg Army, an element in the massed host assembled by Napoleon for the invasion. Faber du Faur was one of the 100, of the original 15,000 Württemburgers, to return to from that debacle. He was a skilled amateur artist and, while on the march, made a detailed record of the campaign with sketches in pencil, ink and watercolor. These illustrations provide a graphic eyewitness account of the invasion, from the crossing of the river Niemen in June 1812 to the calamitous retreat in December, including scenes of camp life, the Russian landscape and populace, the problems posed by the weather, and battle views.

Extremely rare in colored form, this is the only copy to appear at auction in the last 35 years.