LUCET (Jean-Jacques) - ECKARD (Jean) Hommages poétiques à Leurs Majestés Impériales et Royales sur la naissance de S. M. le roi de Rome Paris: imprimerie de Prudhomme fils, 1811. - 2 volumes in-8, long-grained red morocco, gilded filets and roulette in frames and imperial arms gilded in the center of the boards, smooth spine decorated, inner gilded roulette, gilded edges (period binding). First edition of this collection of poetic pieces in verse written in honor of the birth of the King of Rome. "This is a collection of the best verse pieces that were inspired by the birth of the King of Rome to French, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Dutch poets, as all the languages of Europe celebrated this great and happy event. The pieces were chosen and published by Jean-Jacques Lucet and historian Jean Eckard (1761-1839), who had appealed to poets of all nations in favor of the Empire. "In response to their generous appeal, twelve hundred and sixty-three champions took part in this literary carousel. Lucet and Eckard were only able to immortalize a few of them; a few still form a mass of two hundred and seventy-five Poets, whose verses, under different titles and in different languages, are printed in the Recueil" (Extract from the "Feuilleton du Journal de l'Empire" of September 2, 1811, reproduced at the end of the second volume on page 53 of the "Appendix"). The edition is illustrated with 2 frontispieces drawn and engraved by Blanchard fils, the first depicting Napoleon on a triumphal chariot and the second representing the King of Rome crowned in his cradle by France, and guarded by Wisdom in the guise of Minerva. A fine copy on wove paper, in in-8 format, in contemporary morocco to which Napoleon's coat of arms was affixed later, probably in the 20th century. It is complete with the "Appendice aux hommages poétiques à leurs majestés Impériales et Royales, sur la naissance de S. M. le roi de Rome" published by Jean Eckard in November 1811. Some scattered freckling. Tears not missing from the last leaf of the "Appendix". Provenance: Federico Lobetti Bodoni, with bookplate.