CHODŹKO Leonard. histoire des Légions Polonaises en Italie, sous le commandement du Général Dombrowski. T. 1-2 complete.
Paris 1829. edition 1. Publie par J. Barbezat. pp. [6], LXVI, [2], 399, f. t. 3 (portrait, Dabrowski's Mazurka); [4], 596, f. t. 1 (spreads), maps 1; woodcut vignettes; 20.5cm.
Hardcover half leather with gilt and embossing on spine, marbled page edges. Good condition, minor rubbing of binding, minor soiling, stamps on title page.
Piecefrom the book collection of Antoni Kalkstein (1839-1918) and his wife Antonina, née hr. Sierakowski (1847-1940), owners of the Pluskowęsy estate near Toruń ("Kalkstein's Pluskowęsy Library" stamp with the Kos coat of arms).
The first comprehensive work comprehensively covering the history of the Polish Legions in Italy commanded by Henryk Dabrowski. The work is decorated with a portrait of General Dabrowski (steel engraving) and a fold-out engraving showing the Turkish banner captured by the army of Jan III Sobieski during the relief of Vienna.
It also contains the oldest known print of the score of the "Dabrowski Mazurka" vocal and piano arrangement by W. Sowinski (see W. Lysiak. Empireum, p. 577).
The offered item is the first written work of Leonard Chodko (1800-1871), historian and publisher, tireless promoter and defender of the Polish cause abroad, it met with great acclaim and greatly facilitated his contact with the scientific and publishing world of Paris, which later resulted in the realization of the monumental three-volume publication "La Pologne historique, littéraire, monumentale et pittoresque" in 1835-1842.
Attached to vol.2 is a (rarely preserved) 43 x 44 cm map (card: 68 x 50.5 cm) Carte généralede l'Italie: pour servir à l'Histoire des Légions Polonaisesen Italiesous le commendement duGeneralDombrowski. Dedicatedto Count Tytus Dzialynski by Author Leonard Chodźko being a contribution to the history of the Polish Legions in Italy. The map, in addition to detailed information on the board itself (e.g., the route of the San Domingo expedition), contains a detailed history of Dabrowski's Legions in the margins. On the left and right side the history of the Legions in continuous text. On the left side at the bottom a calendar, and Dabrowski's proclamations of 20 I 1797 about the formation of the Legions. On the right at the bottom a list of killed and wounded officers. In addition, below is a continuation of Dabrowski's proclamation and an order from General Leopold Berthier, on the occasion of General Kniaziewicz's daring victory on December 1, 1798 at the Battle of Magliano.
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