1838. 12mo, pp. 400; with 70 full-page engraved plates each with two images; plates clean and bright, with some occasional light marginal staining, text on differing paper stock, a little browned and foxed throughout, with some sporadic minor dampstaining affecting margins; in contemporary green pebble-grained cloth backed marbled boards, spine ruled in blind and lettered in gilt, head and tail of spine a little bumped, corners a little worn, but otherwise a good copy. Scarce later edition of this attractive mnemonical treatise, and the first work by the noted educationalist and author of several historical works, Mme Laure Boen de Saint-Ouen (1799-1838). It was in the first edition of 1822, that Saint-Ouen unveiled her eye-catching pictorial system, using small emblems designed to represent significant events: for example a small upright chariot or ship signified a victory in battle, whilst an upside down equivalent depicted a loss. A sword represented an assassination, in contrast to an hourglass signifying a natural death. Such was the success and positive reception to the work and this new and effective method of teaching history, that Saint-Ouen was to subsequently publish a number of similar works, notably an extensive history of England (1825), as well as a history celebrating the life of Napoleon (1833). This 1838 issue is accompanied by 70 engraved plates, each with a circular portrait of the monarch under discussion, together with an accompanying ‘mnemonic medallion’ comprising a combination of emblems symbolizing the events of their life. Throughout the work, Mme Saint-Ouen poses a number of exercises and questions to test the student.
Her novel method was described by contemporary reviewers as being ‘well-conceived and well executed’ and did much to revolutionise the way that history was taught in French elementary schools. Her initial plans to publish a series of European histories to include studies of Germany, Russia, and Spain, were curtailed by her untimely death.
Though the title-page describes this as the second edition, another issue was published by Colas in 1826. All editions of her works appear scarce.