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Original 1805 Napoleon French Empire Bulletin des Lois / Gesetzregister
Scarce original Napoleonic-era French Imperial government publication dating to 1805, preserving a professionally bound consecutive run of Bulletin des Lois / Gesetzregister Nos. 47 through 52.
The original period material forms part of the official:
BULLETIN DES LOIS DE L\'EMPIRE FRANÇAIS
4e Série – Tome III
with contemporary French and German parallel text.
The complete parent Tome III encompasses Bulletins Nos. 38–58; this professionally bound collector\'s volume contains the consecutive Nos. 47–52 and is therefore accurately described as a bound extract / partial run, not the complete Tome III.
Important Code Napoléon / Italy Content
One of the most historically significant portions of this volume is Bulletin No. 49, which contains the Imperial decree ordering publication of the Code Napoléon in the former States of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla.
This decree dates from 4 May 1805 / 14 Floréal An XIII, during Napoleon\'s important 1805 Italian campaign of political and administrative consolidation.
The decree represents the practical expansion of Napoleonic civil law beyond France and into territories under growing French Imperial control.
For collectors of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Code Napoléon, Italian history and European legal history, this is one of the strongest features of the volume.
Marengo / Alessandria Connection
Bulletin No. 47 contains an Imperial decree concerning changes to the organization of arrondissements and Justices of the Peace in the Département de Marengo.
The decree was issued from the Palace of Alessandria during Napoleon\'s celebrated Italian journey of 1805.
This places the material directly within the period when Napoleon was reorganizing northern Italian administration and law while physically traveling through the region.
Genoa / Liguria Legal Administration
Other portions of the bound run contain extensive material concerning judicial and commercial organization.
The photographed parallel pages include:
CHAPITRE III – Des Tribunaux de commerce
with the corresponding German:
Kapitel III – von den Handlungs-Gerichten
The text discusses commercial courts and the administration of territories including Genoa and Chiavari.
This gives the book significant crossover appeal for collectors of:
Napoleon in Italy
Genoa / Liguria under Napoleon
Code Napoléon
French Imperial Administration
European Legal History
French / German Bilingual Edition
The original sheets alternate between the French heading:
BULLETIN DES LOIS
and the German:
GESETZREGISTER
The parallel French/German format is particularly attractive for collectors interested in the administration of Napoleon\'s multinational European empire.
The later binding appropriately identifies the volume in gilt as:
Gesetzregister des Französischen Reichs
Band III
No. 47–52
Printed Napoleon Authentication
The original decree text includes the printed wording:
“Signé NAPOLÉON.”
The German parallel text similarly reads:
“Unterschrieben Napoleon.”
This is the official printed authentication wording of the decree and is not a handwritten Napoleon autograph or signature.
It nevertheless provides an excellent visual connection to Napoleon I and should display very well in a collection.
Original Period Printing
The contents are original early-19th-century government printing.
The parent Tome III was issued by the Imprimerie Impériale in Paris in 1805.
The original sheets display appropriate period characteristics including thin early-19th-century paper, strong reverse print show-through, age oxidation, foxing and period typography.
This is not a modern reproduction or facsimile.
Professional Collector Binding
The original 1805 material has been professionally preserved in a later black cloth hardcover binding.
Features include:
Clean black cloth boards
Gilt front-board title panel and rules
Gilt spine lettering
Clean later cream endpapers
Secure, professionally executed binding
Gold-toned / gilt-finished text-block edges
Armorial EX LIBRIS RIEGLER ownership bookplate
The later binding is not represented as an original 1805 binding.
The gold-toned page edges appear to have been applied as part of the professional collector\'s rebinding and greatly enhance the visual presentation.
Riegler Collection Provenance
A colored armorial bookplate mounted inside reads:
EX LIBRIS RIEGLER
and displays a heraldic shield, helmet and crest.
Condition
Very good overall presentation, with original 1805 contents in good to very good antique condition and a very well-preserved later professional binding.
The black cloth binding remains exceptionally attractive with:
Strong black color
Bright gilt front-board lettering and rules
Clear gilt spine lettering
Firm boards
Solid-looking hinges
Clean later endpapers
Only minor handling or shelf wear
The gold-toned/gilt text-block edges remain attractive, with expected light dulling and localized wear near corners and exposed edges.
The original 1805 pages show:
Moderate age toning
Scattered foxing and brown spotting
Occasional darker age marks
Minor edge darkening
Natural paper waviness
Light handling creases
Mild edge/corner wear
Normal strong print show-through from the thin period paper
Occasional localized surface marks
The printed French and German text remains dark, sharp and highly legible throughout the photographed sections.
No major tears, extensive paper losses, heavy water damage, tape repairs, severe insect damage or modern alteration to the original printed text are visible in the supplied photographs.
Original 1805 printed contents; professionally rebound at a later date.
Please examine all photographs closely for exact contents, completeness and condition.
Historical & Collector Significance
This six-Bulletin run dates from one of the defining years of Napoleon\'s reign.
Its strongest subjects include:
Napoleon Bonaparte / Napoleon I
Code Napoléon
Napoleonic Wars
First French Empire
Italy under Napoleon
Parma
Piacenza / / Liguria
French Imperial Law
Commercial Courts
French-German Government Documents
Unlike a later historical account, these are actual official period government publications from Napoleon\'s reign, preserving Imperial decrees and administrative law as issued in 1805.
The combination of Code Napoléon content, Italian territorial administration, bilingual French/German printing, six consecutive original Bulletins, attractive gilt binding and Riegler provenance makes this an excellent historical display and research piece.
Shipping
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The volume will be carefully packed with appropriate rigid protection and padding for safe shipment.
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Item Specifics
Original/Reproduction: Original Period Item
Period: 1784–1860
Era: Napoleonic Wars / First French Empire
Year: 1805
Historical Figure: Napoleon Bonaparte / Napoleon I
Type: Imperial Government Laws / Bound Bulletins
Title: Bulletin des Lois / Gesetzregister
Series: 4e Série / Fourth Series
Parent Tome: Tome III
Bulletins Included: Nos. 47–52
Run: 6 Consecutive Bulletins
Complete Tome III Range: Nos. 38–58
Language: French & German
Country/Region of Origin: France
Subject: Napoleonic Imperial Laws & Decrees
Primary Historical Subject: Code Napoléon
Additional Subjects: Italy / Marengo / Genoa / Imperial Administration
Locations Referenced: Parma, Piacenza, Guastalla, Alessandria, Marengo, Genoa
Publisher: Imprimerie Impériale
Publication Place: Paris, France
Binding: Later Professional Black Cloth Hardcover
Binding Decoration: Gilt Front & Spine Titles
Page Edges: Gold-Toned / Gilt-Finished
Bookplate: Armorial Ex Libris Riegler
Printed Napoleon Name: Yes – Printed “Signé NAPOLÉON”
Hand Signed: No
Material: Paper / Cloth
Vintage: Yes
Antique: Yes
Modified: Professionally Rebound
