< Back

Lafons, M.
Lafons' Picture of Paris, for 1814; Being A Complete Guide to all the Public Buildings, Places of Amusement, and Curiosities, in the French Metropolis: Containing the Different Routes from London to Paris, Directions to Strangers on their first Arrival, Sketch of Modern Manners, Catalogue of Paintings, and other Objects deserving of Notice.
Publisher: Printed by W. Lewis, St, John’s-square, for S. A. Oddy, Ivy-Lane, London;
Date of Publication: 1814
Stock Code: 14233
Duodecimo in half-sheets. Pp., 224 plus engraved frontispiece of the Pont Neuf and two fold-out maps, one of France, the other of Paris, dated May 1814. Original publisher’s printed buff paper-covered boards; titles printed to spine, and upper board, and advertisements printed to lower board, all edges uncut. Ownership inscription of H. Rose [i.e. Hugh Rose], Esq of Kilravock Castle, dated 1815 to title-page. A few scuffs to boards, and corners lightly rubbed, slight loss to head of spine. Contents clean and bright. A very well preserved copy. An exceptionally rare travel guide for British visitors to Napoleonic-era Paris, produced mere weeks after the Emperor of France was exiled to Elba in March, 1814. From the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau in April of 1814 to Napoleon’s final return in March of 1815, Britain and France were at peace. This volume sought to capitalise upon that peace by providing a comprehensive guide to the newly accessible French capital. It is therefore a remarkably unusual artefact of Napoleonic-era travel writing. Preserved in its original boards, this book provides a rare insight into how British readers would have encountered peacetime Paris for the first time in decades. Tellingly both books in the publisher’s adverts to the lower board relate to the life of Napoleon. In addition to two detailed fold-out maps, this book includes tables of travel times, exchange rates, and directories of libraries, galleries, restaurants, and other ‘curiosities’. Hugh Rose was 20th or 21st Baron of Kilravock, Nairnshire and Chief of Clan Rose. Sold