LAURENT (Paul-Mathieu). History of Napoleon. Paris : J.J. Dubochet, 1840. - Large in-8, dark green half-maroquin with long grain and corners, spine ribbed and decorated, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (Stroobants). Beautiful edition of this monograph of the emperor Napoleon by Paul-Mathieu Laurent, known as Laurent de l'Ardèche (1793-1877) who participated in the construction of the Napoleonic legend. He goes through the life of the Emperor from his birth to his death. It is illustrated in a second edition with more than 400 woodcut vignettes in the text after the compositions of Horace Vernet, as well as a frontispiece engraved by Adrew Best and Leloir after Clerget, reproduced on the cover. This edition includes in addition to the first edition of 1839, 45 color plates including a frontispiece after Horace Vernet and 44 after Hippolyte Bellangé, representing military costumes. A very nice copy bound in booklet by Stroobants. Spine very slightly faded. Few foxing and a few browned quires. Also included: - FIEFFÉ (Eugène). Napoleon I and the Imperial Guard. Paris : Furne fils, 1859. - In-4, green half-basane, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, speckled edges (period binding). First edition of this work published during the second empire, giving the history of the different corps that composed the imperial guard under Napoleon I. It is illustrated with 22 steel-engraved compositions after drawings by Raffet, including a frontispiece, a title vignette on chine glue and 20 color plates representing the emperor and the costumes of the different corps of his guard. Rubbing on the spine and on the edges, corners dulled. Several plates browned.