Lucien Rousselot: "Napoleon's Army 1790-1815

[Auggie]

I have been wanting to get this book, THE reference on French Napoleonic uniforms, for years. The price was always insane. I have seen it as low as $150 to as much as $750.
Yesterday I found a copy for $68. (These prices are all in Canadian dollars.)
I read some reviews on Amazon.ca where the book was also being sold, that said that these new reprints are lacking in colour quality. The images have been reduced in size to be almost useless as good reference, etc. Has anyone had issues with the newer copy? Have I wasted my money?

 

[megroot]

I have this one, and I'm very happy with it.
It is very good, with images are good enough. I bought it in 2014
marc

 

[Nap]

Augie

this book obviously a good book but as most I use it and indeed all books together

Those prices are incredible so you did well getting yours IMO

Nap

 

[Tecumsea]

Hi Augie, this is a very nice book and there is no need to pay speculative inflated prices for it. Yes, the pictures are reductions from the original Rousellot plates of which I have a set. Even then if you want to be picky the original plates were hand coloured and the later issues colour printed reproductions.

The book is perfectly adequate and if you have any doubts about colour there is plenty of advice available on PF.

Enjoy the book.

Keith

 

[Auggie]

Thanks Keith, that is very re-assuring. I appreciate your feedback.
Cheers!

 

[Nap]

Hi Augie, this is a very nice book and there is no need to pay speculative inflated prices for it. Yes, the pictures are reductions from the original Rousellot plates of which I have a set. Even then if you want to be picky the original plates were hand coloured and the later issues colour printed reproductions.

The book is perfectly adequate and if you have any doubts about colour there is plenty of advice available on PF.

Enjoy the book.

Keith

Totally agree there Keith

Nap

 

[DaddyO]

Just bought a copy from Amazon too - Excellent reference. I've got several of the later issued plates and the colour balance of the book seems to be similar. Yes the smaller reproduction size is not ideal, but there are dozens of other illustrations included in the book that I've not seen elsewhere so swings and roundabouts IMO. The book is an ideal reference; small enough to be convenient, but packed with information. If you have an interest in the uniforms of the period it really ought to be on your shelf (or, as is my case, open and next to you whilst working)
Mine cost £40 inc. postage and there are a few still available for a similar price (Although 'second-hand' the only clue was a slight bruise on the bottom corner of the spine which, to be honest, I've also seen on brand new books and doesn't bother me in the slightest)
Cheers
Paul

 

[Auggie]

Thanks for the positive comments. I look forward to getting my copy soon.
Cheers!

 

[Ronaldo]

Are they not the colour plates used by Historex ,which were always difficult to see fine detail and at best adequate . I much prefer the Conrad stuff but they are all cavalry .

 

[fogie]

You might want to slick on this link :-

https://fotki.lv/?x=OS5RKFxDRy06RDx...6QDxIIjEgISRTOS5XKFw0MjZHLTpCPEgxICNTOS5ZKFxE

 

[Nap]

You might want to slick on this link :-

https://fotki.lv/?x=OS5RKFxDRy06RDx...6QDxIIjEgISRTOS5XKFw0MjZHLTpCPEgxICNTOS5ZKFxE

Woah !!!! That's a great link to slink to ....put it on the references part of PF !!

Nap

 

[Auggie]

That is a great! Wish I knew about this link sooner; the book is enrolee to me already.
Thanks Fogie!

 

[fogie]

You are perfectly welcome....... you've probably seen this around before and it's only vaguely representative, but it is from Lucien Rousselot's
notebook and serves as a reasonable guide


Mike

 

[Auggie]

Hi Mike.
Does the link that you sent include all the plates that are in the book?
The colour chart will be very useful too.
Thanks!

 

[fogie]

Sadly Auggie I've no idea ... but as there's 130-odd of them, I don't think the link is short of too many. A lifetime ago back in the 70's
Lynn Sangster offered a a whole set of Rousselot's colour plates in some sort of special folder. It cost about the same as the National
Debt so as an impoverished artist at the time I had to give it a miss. - short-sighted of me.... eh?

Mike

 

[fogie]

Been ferreting about a bit an uncovered this Russian site... three or four pages of stuff which might include extras.
It means trawling through them to check of course, but you never know.........

https://grognard.dreamwidth.org/2006/05/29/

 

[Ronaldo]

Some great stuff here Fogie , which we used to rely on .

These days via the internet we can get the colours right from the horses mouth thanks to the internet , Musee de l'Emperi is a great resource .

Thanks for posting

 

[fogie]

Not that it matters much but the colour plates provided with Historex kits were painted by Eugene Leliepvre - he was
responsible for all their illustrative work - catalogues, instruction sheets, so forth.

Mike

 

[Auggie]

The Rousselot book arrived today.
It has surpassed all my expectations. Love it!
Thanks!

 

[NeilW]

Currently (Oct 2020) on offer from Pen & Sword (alongside a whole raft of other Nap books) at £37.50 inc P&P (UK)

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Napoleons-Army-1790-1815-Hardback/p/3712

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/catalogues#catalogue-82