The Order Creating Napoleon’s Great Travel Library, the Very One that Accompanied Him to Russia, Signed by the Three Men Who Built It
An important moment in intellectual history, the library created here suffered the same fate as Napoleon's army, meetings its destruction in the winter months outside Moscow
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In 1808 Napoleon formed the idea of having a traveling library, in order to make his hours of intellectual recreation independent of the exigencies of a campaign or the delays of a courier. More importantly, during times of battle, he ordered books that taught him the topography of the countries he was...
In 1808 Napoleon formed the idea of having a traveling library, in order to make his hours of intellectual recreation independent of the exigencies of a campaign or the delays of a courier. More importantly, during times of battle, he ordered books that taught him the topography of the countries he was invading and gave him other information to help toward victory. Obviously such a collection of books would have to be selected with great care, that the library might be a portable one; and consequently the minute instructions as to its care are, as it were, a picture of his mind.
To create this library, he turned principally to three men.
Abbe Denina: In 1782, he had served as historian under Frederick the Great; he became under Napoleon the imperial librarian.
Antoine-Alexandre Barbier: It was in 1808 that he was put in charge of Napoleon’s personal libraries at Compiègne, Rambouillet and Trianon and given the primary role in managing the travel libraries that Napoleon took with him whilst on campaign. Barbier was also expected to keep the French Emperor constantly supplied with reading material, along with reports, analyses and commentaries regarding each publication.
Jacob Desmalter: He was responsible for the creation of the library itself, the boxes into which the books went, along with the decorations worthy of an imperial library.
This is the first known travel library of a head of state and general. Napoleon seems to have looked forward with expectation to the use of this traveling library while in the field; and when he was preparing for the great campaign which culminated at Wagram, he wrote somewhat impatiently from Malmaison, March 20, 1809, through Méneval, his private secretary, “The Emperor wants to know if his traveling library is ready. I advised M. Barbier to choose it with care, and to put some excellent books in it.” Then the secretary adds: “His Majesty wishes to have something very distinguished, and has a preference for books characterized by the beauty of the printed page and by elegance of binding.” Finally comes the admonition, “If you have not found the epics, do not lose a moment of time in getting them.”
His first portable library was ordered in 1808 and reached him in 1809 but was soon replaced by one that suited his interests more and that would last him longer. In replacing the 1809 delivery, a second mahogany library of 6 boxes was ordered from Desmalter, along with two of oak, lined with blue silk. The cost from Desmalter was 1982 francs. These were likely used by Napoleon for the first time in 1810 during visits to Normandy and Holland.
As tensions with Russia heated however, Napoleon supplemented this portable library with books on Russian geography and topography to prepare for his Russian invasion.
The fate of this traveling library was the fate of his entire army of 1812: it was lost. The books and boxes of the Emperor became firewood for a faltering army in the snow drifts of Russia.
Document signed, Paris, October 26, 1810, the original order for one of the most famous travel libraries in history, the very library that heated the dying French outside Moscow, signed by all three men that created it.
“Memo for his Majesty the Emperor and King, executed by the order of Mr. Barbie, librarian of his Majesty by Jacob Desmalter.
“Six boxes of pure mahogany to serve as portable libraries, the top opening and hinged, the interior being fitted with copper such that it can remain open, the back decorated with a copper hinge…. 1,440.
“One box made of oak from the Vosges [mountain range], lined with wool…. 150
“One box of oak… 140
“Restore and repair three mahogany boxes and refit the interiors with blue silk…. 234
“Repair and polish one mahogany box… 18
TOTAL 1982.”
This account is verified at the bottom by Jacob Desmalter, the builder of the boxes.
It is witnessed on the verso by Barbier and Denina, who write, “Verified, the present memo of the woodworkers Jacob Desmalter…”
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