FLASSAN, Gaëtan de Raxis de. ~ Histoire génerale et raisonnée de la diplomatie francaise; depuis la fondation de la monarchie, jusqu’à la fin du règne de Louis XVI. Avec des tables chronologiques de tous des traités conclus par la France. Paris: Giguet et Michaud for Lenormant, 1809.
6 vols, 8vo (198 × 120 mm), pp. [4], 538, [2]; 430; 492; 494; 524; 553, [1], 6. Complete with half-titles and errata. Contemporary full red straight grain morocco, gilt, panelled spines with Napoleonic eagle and crown tools, gilt edges, pale blue silk endpapers, by Rosa (with his tickets, 15, rue Bussy, Paris). Heads of spines very slightly bumped or rubbed without loss. A fine and handsome copy.
First edition, bound in red morocco with Napoleonic emblems by Rosa, who together with Bizouard, Bozerian, Tessier, Simier, Lefebvre and Doll, supplied bindings for the Imperial household.
Written under the encouragement of the First Consul this is an important work in defining the purpose of modern diplomacy. Flassan was (like Napoleon) a product of the École militaire de Paris and served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before becoming professor of history at the military school at Saint Germain-en-Laye For Rosa: Ramsden, French Bookbinders, p. 178.