Favorite Postcard - Not a Postcard

I was going to a little entry tonight about my favorite Napoleon postcard.

This is it.

I have never removed it from it's acrylic case. (You all know what a glare acrylic can make when you photograph or scan through it.) So I decided to pop it out of the case tonight.

It's my favorite because it was hand coloured.

I love the look of watercolour on black and white sketches. But I digress.

When I removed it from the case I realized it was a thin piece of paper...not card stock which is normally used for a postcard. It has been cut out of a book.

In fact.

It was cut out of Mme D. Le Roy's book. These stamps were on the reverse.

Now I have another small research project. Who are you Mme D. Le Roy and how did your book get into Paul F Franco's collection?

The things you do late at night.

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The Blog To Read Today!

I hate to send you away.

Thanks for stopping by.

I am thrilled to have you here.

But the blog to read today is this one!

http://blog.raucousroyals.com/

Altered Book

If you would have tried to read this book you might have supported me in my decision to close it permanently.

Sheesh.  

I can't even given you a description.  It was that bad.

But I did like the Napoleon on the cover so I created a resin filled niche that didn't disturb the graphic.

Now it will hang on my wall instead of waste space in my library.

New Napoleon Art

Do you see anyone that looks familiar?

The author of this book is an extremely sought after artist and teacher.

He also has a very good sense of humour.

One might even say that he is a bit of a prankster.

So.

You can imagine my anxiety when a message was left on my phone saying that he had found a Napoleon...and would be doing something with it very soon.

I knew he would be altering it...but would he be kind?

Not that Napoleon needs my protection. God knows the cartoonists sure did lampoon him.

But he is "my Napoleon" and I want people to like him.

On Tuesday I noticed that Michael had written a new blog post....so I popped over for a visit.

AND THERE IT WAS.

NAPOLEON AND HIS NEW FRIENDS ala Michael deMeng.

I LOVE HIM. I am going to call him Demented Napoleon.

Lucky for me, Michael gave me "right of first refusal" to purchase him. With this picture to go by, all I knew was that I just wanted him. My hubby didn't even see the picture before he blurted out get him!

And here he is! Happily showcased in my Napoleon section.

I had no idea he was metal. He's quite heavy so I have him next to my bronze classic Napoleon.

He's like a weapon, should I ever need one.

The little jar is for me. An inside joke between the artist, me and the great collectors of the world.

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Napoleon's Candy

Constant reports that "once Napoleon was dressed he was presented with his handkerchief, his tobacco-box, and a little shell box filled with aniseed and licorice cut very fine."

The licorice I could picture but I had no idea what aniseed would be like.

I found these aniseed sticks in a store in England. Now I get it!

Aniseed is one of the ingratiates commonly found in cough drop type candies like Fisherman's friend.

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Napoleon's Bath Time

I took this picture of Napoleon's bathroom/tub last April at Fontainebleau.

It is well documented that Napoleon loved a good bath.

He spent hours in the tub reading and dictating letters. Water was kept hot at all times because the staff never knew when he might want to take a bath. Constant, his valet says "He liked hot baths followed by rubdowns. His doctors tell him this habit contributes to obesity. His valet tells him he splashes to much."

This is a great illustration I found this weekend.

Now I can really visualize him in the tub!

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Napoleon Wore Glasses

Records show that glasses were ordered for Napoleon.

I have never seen a pair on his face.

I wonder if they were for reading? Has anyone seen them in a collection?

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It's Not Me

Really. I can't make up pictures like this.

I have tried.

Really, I have tried to locate a picture of Napoleon's son where his head was a normal size. (Look at the size of this melon.) But as long as I keep finding paintings like these..he is going to be known as Bighead on this blog.

I found this in my 1921 L'Illustration magazine. I must have missed it the last time I flipped through the pages.

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Napoleon Souvenir

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This is a souvenir postcard (also found this past weekend.)

It is a souvenir for "Waterloo" which confuses me because this was not Napoleon's best day.

The floral postcard is fantastic though!  

I am trying not to read too much into the flower choice though.

Pansy.

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Canadian Napoleon Collectible?

Today at a vintage postcard sale I found this fabulous booklet.

Inside are 20 Napoleon stamps. How surprised was I to see them all there! Especially since the booklet was only $12. Napoleon memorabilia is always so pricey.

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The booklet was printed in Paris. It appears to have been created as a fundraiser for a French charity. But it says "chaque timbre - 5 cents canadiens." Or in English "Every stamp - 5 cents Canadian."
Hmmmmmmm. Does that mean the booklet of 20 stamps was worth $1? Canadian?
Or is there another meaning to "canadien?"

No matter. I love the Andy Warhol-like colour collection. Purple Nappy is a favorite.

This is the only stamp that doesn't look like Napoleon at all.

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Another Grand Book - Careful It Is Heavy

I am starting to read the book I posted on the side bar: NAPOLEON - An Intimate Account of The Years of Supremacy.

I started by just looking at all the images....and there are hundreds.
I dragged this book all the way back from Paris. It weighs just under seven pounds, so I have a little neck crick from trying to read it whilst balancing it on my lap. I should have opened it on the dining room table and let something else bear the full weight of it. Also, I should have purchased it on Amazon....where it would have been delivered to my home...at a much discounted price.

Oh well. As I always say, if you see a Napoleon book, buy it, it won't be there when you get back.

The book was edited so that two impressions of Napoleon's life could be gathered under one cover. You hear from either Napoleon's Secretary or his Valet. They each had their own books published after Napoleon's death. This volume pulls together a lot of their words and personal observations. I am enjoying it a great deal because it is full of the type of detail I enjoy. The behind the scenes everyday life of the emperor.

Take for example the valet. His name is Constant. ISN'T THAT A PERFECT NAME FOR A VALET?? This is a painting of Constant. His opening comments are these:

I have seen all the men and witnessed all the important events, which centred around him. I have seen far more than that; for I have had under my eyes all the circumstances of his life, the least as well as the greatest, the most secret as well as those which are known to history.

This book is going to be good.

Napoleon's Buttons

These are the button magnets I made with the fabric I found online last week! I thought they turned out really well.

While I was making them I was reminded of the Napoleon book I have yet to read. "Napoleon's Buttons" has been on my list for a while. (I have it posted on the side bar.) I went straight to Amazon and ordered it and was very happy to see that there is a paperback edition. I prefer hardback for my Napoleon collection, but I am not sure if I am going to like this book. The basic premice is that the badly made buttons of Napoleon's army contributed...or caused their downfall in Russia. Hmmm. Sounds interesting.

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