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Curiosa

Comte d'Ornano - Marie Walewska, 'L'épouse polonaise' de Napoléon (Hachette, circa 1937)

Title page and marbled cloth binding of Marie Walewska biography by Comte d'Ornano, Hachette. - view 1
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Estimated value

$15 - $35

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Category

Books

Brand

Librairie Hachette

Era

circa 1937–1938

Origin

France

Artist / Creator

Comte d'Ornano

Authenticity

Very High(90%)
1

COMTE D'ORNANO - MARIE WALEWSKA, 'L'ÉPOUSE POLONAISE' DE NAPOLÉON (HACHETTE, CIRCA 1937): IDENTIFICATION

Octavo volume bound in contemporary green cloth-backed marbled boards with a gilt-lettered brown morocco title label affixed to the spine. The title leaf identifies the author as Comte d'Ornano and the publisher as Librairie Hachette, issued as part of the biographical series 'Le Rayon d'Histoire'. Facing the half-title or title is the publisher's catalogue list enumerating contemporary titles in the series, including works by Henri Carré and Marcel Dupont.

EDITION & PUBLISHING HISTORY

Librairie Hachette published this biographical study of Marie Walewska, mistress to Napoleon I and mother of Alexandre Colonna-Walewski, in Paris in 1937. The author was a direct descendant of Philippe-Antoine d'Ornano, the French Marshal who married Walewska in 1816 following Napoleon's exile. ...
Librairie Hachette published this biographical study of Marie Walewska, mistress to Napoleon I and mother of Alexandre Colonna-Walewski, in Paris in 1937. The author was a direct descendant of Philippe-Antoine d'Ornano, the French Marshal who married Walewska in 1816 following Napoleon's exile. Published to meet public interest in Napoleonic history during the late interwar period, the trade edition was printed on machine-made wood-pulp paper and sold in paper wrappers before being privately rebound by the owner.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The author, Comte d'Ornano, was the great-grandson of Marshal Philippe-Antoine d'Ornano, who married Marie Walewska in Liège on 7 September 1816.

2

A 1937 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film titled 'Conquest', starring Greta Garbo as Marie Walewska and Charles Boyer as Napoleon, coincided directly with the release of this French edition.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

    How does authenticity detection work?

    BIBLIOPHILE'S ASSESSMENT

    Rare Book Dealer & Bibliographer

    Bibliographer

    The title leaf, author credit, and Hachette publisher imprint are clearly visible and document a well-catalogued trade biography from 1937. Confidence is restricted below 0.95 only because the terminal colophon leaf is not visible to establish the exact printing run.

    KEY EVIDENCE

    • 1Imprint of 'Librairie Hachette' and the series leaf 'Le Rayon d'Histoire' confirm the commercial trade issue printed in Paris circa 1937.

    CONDITION & GRADE

    Very Good

    Grading breakdown

    Scored as Very Good under ABMR standards due to intact binding hinges, clear spine lettering on the morocco label, and absence of significant foxing or tearing on the title leaf.

    Condition

    The volume shows light shelf friction at the head and tail of the spine, with minor bumping at the board extremities. The interior text leaves display moderate, uniform age-toning typical of 1930s wood-pulp paper stocks, without visible dampstaining or loose signatures.

    BOOK MARKET VALUATION

    $15 - $35

    Updated: Oct 16, 2026

    • Market comparables from auctions & retail
    • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
    • Current collector demand & trends
    • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

    For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

    YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

    How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

    What Aligned

    • User indicated the title and author as Marie Walewska and Comte d'Ornano, which matches the printed title page and spine label precisely.
    • User noted minor wear, matching the light corner rubbing and paper toning visible on the book.

    What Conflicted

    • User pasted the entire book title into the origin, brand, and era fields rather than identifying the publisher Librairie Hachette or the circa 1937 publication date.

    FROM THE CABINET OF

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