More properly, The Napoleon Medals: a complete series of the medals struck in France, Italy, Great Britain and Germany, from the commencement of the Empire in 1804, to the restoration in 1815, engraved by the process of Achilles Collas, with historical and biographical notices. A large folio sized book with forty plates of engravings.
This was the first volume of a projected two volume work. In fact the second volume wasn`t printed and this book ends in 1810. It contains remarkable engravings apparently produced directly from medals. In an age that had no photography this was as close as the engraver`s art got to precisely reproducing an image.
Sharp eyed observers of these pages will notice the correlation between this and the enigmatic number scheme usually prefaced with TN or T.N. Edwards clearly copied the Empire Trésor and translated it into English. Interestingly enough is Bramsen`s equally obvious use of the text in his own standard. This relationship is clearly shown in such pieces as 28 below.
Over time I will reproduce the text of the book for those medals I currently own or collect in the future that are listed. The book lists 564 in all, from 1804 to 1810.