"New Saxon 1810-13 Book" Topic

Fine new book from member of Napoleon Series

Peter Bunde, Martin Gartner and Markus Stein (2009) Die Sachsiche Armee 1810-13, Zeughaus Verlag,Berliner Zinnfigurinen, 64 pages

The paperback book is 64 pages in slig htly less than A4 in high quality gloss paper is well layed out with authoriative text that even those with a limited knowledge of German would be able to find the information.

The illustrations are a great combination of new computurised style of Peter Bunde. These are clear and easy to follow with excellent flags in colour. It is great to see these due to the complexity of the Saxon flags especially the borders. Other illustrations are by Patrice Courcelle.

The contemporary illustrations in colour are mainly from the collection of Markus Stein of Napoleon-Online and it is great to see them well reproduced in almost their original size.
Hess (1806)
Suhr (1820)
Baldauf (1810)
Sauerweid (1810)
Opitz (c1811)
Schrader (c1812)
Beyer (1811)
Augsbilder (c1810)

I hope this is start of a fine new series of booklets on other Confederation of the Rhine states. It would be hoped that in future a translation into English would open up this series to the British, Australian and US markets being perfect for the wargamer and modeller.

Stephen

Having looked at the preview here (Vorschau)

link

Would be happy to have the German version rather than wait for a possible English one

Also on the same page and very relevant to the Napoleonic period, in some way. I just have to think of exactly which way that might be……..

link

link

Dear Nigel
I do not know whether there will be a English version. There are not English versions of the other titles.

Stephen

Wow Stephen, this looks like a "must-have" for me. Where did you get all the additional info about the contents. A lot of what you memntion isn't described in the blurb.

Dear Martin
I had just purchased the book and thought people should know more about the book. I do not think the explanation given has done it justice. Also it is great to see some of the work of my colleagues who have over the years been of great assistance to me in my various projects.

It is great that a book exceeds your expectations. It follows the view that I have always taken in my books that illustrations tells so much.

Stephen

Posted on Napoleon Series by one of the Authors

Thank you for your kind review of our small book … and indeed we're now preparing another one, covering the Bavarian army 1805-1813. And if the series runs well, one book per year is possible …

An english publication is discussed, but probably not one book alone but several of them in one volume … so, definitely no English translation available before 2011.

Kind regards from snowy Germany
Markus Stein

P.S. I added a link of the editor (Berliner Zinnfiguren) … just click on "Vorschau" and you get an impression of some pages

Link: Saxon book
URL:
link

As Dr Summerfield says, an excellent book with masses of specialist information. My one caveat would be regarding the infantry flags illustrated. On the plus side they have restored the Royal Arms to the correct side of the flag, whereas many sources for wargames seem to have misplaced them for some years. On the down side they still show the shield with Royal Monogram on the other side of the flag as being in the same colour as the field. The shield was in fact white on all flags, as is shown where it appears in miniature in the corners of the side depicting the Royal Arms. On the borders, there is still some uncertainty, but it is highly likely that at least some, if not the majority, had their designs on pieces of white silk sown to the main field, rather than pieces of field colour. As Dr Summerfield says, Saxon flags of this period are complex, and not all details are currently known. Unfortunately many of the originals were captured by the Russians, and although they survived into the 20th century their current whereabouts is a bit of a mystery. Three examples were in the Saxon Army museum in Dresden up to World War II, and two still survive there in the successor museum, the German Army Historical Museum. Unfortunately this is currently closed for major rebuilding, and will probably not re-open before 2011.

Mollinary

Dear Andrew
Thank you for your comments upon flags. It is 20 years ago that I painted the infantry flags in 15mm. I have not looked at them for many years. I am thankful that it was not 28mm as you can get away with more in the smaller scale. Alas all I had at the time was Otto von Pivka and Wise to go by.

I am looking forward to the Bavarian Army 1805-13. This is certainly my favorite wargames army being my first. Alas Jacobite 15mm figures.

Stephen