Léon Crémière (photographer, 1831-1913) Memories of the Squadron Colonel, Albert VERLY (1815-1883) Colonel VERLY in full dress, bust, seated, with helmet, cuirass, sabre and decorations, c. 1860. Photomechanical reproduction glued on cardboard of the Jules Héron studio (c. 1890). Handwritten annotations and collection mention on verso. 16 x 11 cm Two stereoscopic views (4 images) are attached to a single sheet of albumen paper depicting the arrival of the Emperor of Russia on June 1, 1867 at "4 1/2" in the evening. 20.4 x 16.5 cm B.E. Born in Kingston, Jamaica on January 5, 1815, Albert Verly was the son of a planter. Orphaned at the age of 6, he studied in France and joined the cavalry in 1833. He served eight years at the Saumur school, until he received the rank of warrant officer in 1841. Appointed Second Lieutenant to the 6th chasseurs in July 1843, he was its standard bearer from September 1844 until his appointment as Lieutenant on April 27, 1847. In 1848, he became a staff guide and was promoted to Captain on January 30, 1852. This regiment became the Guards Guides Regiment, which provided service to the Prince President. This contact with the future emperor favoured his passage to the regiment of the Hundred Guards when it was created in May 1854. At the centre of worldly life under the empire, richly married, he nevertheless took part in military campaigns accompanying the emperor. He was notably wounded in the arm beside him on 24 / 6 / 1859 in Solferino, an injury that was nevertheless qualified as a slight contusion in his service record. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1859, then Colonel on 26 October 1864, he was kept in the Hundred Guards, of which he took command, a clear sign of imperial favour. He was made Baron of the Empire in 1867, Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1869 and received numerous foreign decorations. Associated with the splendours of the empire, he also suffered its downfa