144-[FRANCOIS (Charles)]. Journal d'un officier français. Nantes, Imprimerie de Mellinet-Malassis, 1823-1825, 23 issues in one vol. in-8, multiple pagination, half parma morocco, ornate ribbed spine (mid-19th century binding). Extremely rare pre-original of the Memoirs of the famous "dromedary of Egypt". It is well known that these memoirs of Captain François first appeared as extracts in the issues of the periodical Le Lycée armoricain, published from 1823 to April 1830, when it absorbed the Revue de l'Ouest, and took on its title. These were 23 anonymous extracts published during the years 1823, 1824 and 1825, mainly concerning the Egyptian and Russian campaigns, i.e., the two extremes of the Napoleonic epic. Cf. Tulard, 570, and especially the critical edition by Jacques Jourquin. One of two known copies. Our copy is an amateur collection produced in the mid-19th century. It has passed to Catalogue Clavreuil 333-248. A LAS by General Ambert about the work has been added, suggesting that Mellinet himself composed the copy. Finally, 20 engravings have been added. The other known copy is by Henriette Renan's friend, the writer Sophie Ulliac-Trémadeure (1794-c. 1863), who edited the Journal des jeunes personnes from 1846 to 1857, with a wet stamp on the title. The work subsequently passed to the de Kergorlay family. Two armorial bookplates. A good copy. Spine faded.