COMMISSION DES CONFERENCES REGIMENTAIRES. [Title on spine: CONFERENCES MILITAIRES. FIRST SERIES].
Paris: Librairie Militaire J. Dumaine, Libraire-Editeur de l'Empereur, 1868-69. Bound volume of various conferences organized by the Commission des Conferences Regimentaires. 14 cm. Bound in 3/4 leather and marbled boards, raised bands and gilt rules on spine, gilt stamped black morocco spine label. Some wear and rubbing to boards but a good, tight copy overall. Bookplate of Russell of Aden on front pastedown, small bookseller's ticket in upper left corner of pastedown.
The conferences, bound out of sequence, and each with a separate title page, include: 1) Conference Sur la Tactique Separee de la Cavalerie. Rapportuer M. Savin-Delarclause. 1869. 4th conf., pp. 5-40 [pp.29-30 bound out of order]; 2) Conference Considerations Generales sur l'Etat Militaire de la France et des Principales Puissances Etrangeres. Rapporteur M. Nugues. 1869. 1st conf., pp. 5-39; 3) Conference sur le role de la Fortification Passagere dans les Combats. Rapporteur M.F. Prevost. 1869. 12th conf., pp. 5-40; 4) Conference Expose Sommaire de la Campagne d'Allemagne en 1866. Rapporteur M. Ch. Fay. 1869. 5th conf., pp. 5-50; 5) Conference sur la Garde Nationale Mobile. Par M. Ch. Corbin. 1869. [?] conf., pp. 5-49; 6) Conference sur le Service de Sante en Campagne. Par M. Legouest. 1868. [?] conf., pp. 5-48; 7) Conference sur l'Emploi des Chemins de Fer a la Guerre et sur la Telegraphie Militaire. Rapporteur M. Prevost. 1869. 3rd conf., pp. 5-39; 8) Conference de l'Organisation Militaire de l'Allemagne. Rapporteur M. Ch. Fay. 1869. 10th conf., pp. 5-43; 9) Conference de la Geographie de l'Allemagne. Rapporteur M. Ch. Fay. 1869. 9th conf., pp. 5-60; 10) [3 folding maps]; "Theatre des Operations en Boheme en 1866" [to accompany Conf. #5; short tear at gutter, extending approx. 3 in. into map]; "Carte d'Allemagne" [to accompany Conf. #9]; "Plan de la Bataille de Sadowa, 3 Juillet 1866;" 11) Conference sur l'Emploi de la Cavalerie en Allemagne Pendant la Campagne de 1866. Rapporteur M. Charreyron. 1869. 7th conf., pp. 5-36; 12) Conference sur l'Artillerie de Campagne son emploi dans la Guerre d'Allemagne de 1866. Rapporteur M. Saunier. 1869. 11th conf., pp. 5-69 (1)pp.; 13) Conference sur la Tactique de l'Infanterie Prussienne Pendant la Campagne de 1866. Rapporteur M. Heintz. 1869. 6th conf., pp. 5-32; 14) Conference, I: Armement Nouveau, II: Considerations Generales sur les Modifications que la Tactique doit subir par suite du novel etat de l'armement europeen. Rapporteur M. Maldan. 1869. 2nd conf., pp. 5-42; 15) Conference de Quelques Recents Travaux sur la Tactique. Par M. Ch. Fay. 1869. [?] conf., pp. 5-36; 16) Conference sur la Tactique des Trois Armes dans la Division. Rapporteur M. Lanty. 1869. 8th conf., pp. 5-70; 17) [publisher catalog (1)p., "en vente a la meme librairie"]. Item #63597
During the Franco-Prussian War, Marshal Niel organized these conferences to introduce military innovations to the French forces, according to Geoffrey Wawro's book "The Franco-Prussian War," [Cambridge: 2003, p.49], though they failed to find support amongst the French officers.
The bookplate of Russell of Aden belongs to the Russell family of Aden, in Scotland. Likely this book belonged to James George Ferguson Russell (1836-1887), fifth Laird of Aden, a diplomat who served in various legations and embassies in Europe, including Berlin and Munich, or his brother Francis Shirley Russell (1840-1912), who inherited the estate at his death, a career soldier. The motto over the crest on the bookplate reads "Courage Promptus."
OCLC locates a copy at Univ. of Strasbourg and one at Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin which appear to be collected volumes of conferences, but none in the US.
Price: $350.00