1/200 838 Heller La Belle Poule - 'Retour Des Cendres' Ship Which Brought Napoleon's Remains Back From St. Helena
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
Rare. Belle-Poule was a French navy Surveillante-class 60-gun first rank frigate. She achieved fame for bringing the remains of Napoleon from Saint Helena back to France in what became known as the Retour des cendres. The name Belle Poule derives from an incident in 1533, when Francis I was presented with the keys of Toulouse by Paule de Viguier, the baroness Fronteville. Paule was a young girl known for her beauty, and Francis nicknamed her la belle Paule. The name became altered over time to belle poule. The name was later adopted by a Gironde corsair for his vessel, giving rise to it's use as a ships name in the French navy. Another version of the story is that Francis called her 'belle poule' as a play on words. The word belle is 'beautiful', while 'poule' is a reference to her name, Paule, but also means 'chick', which in French (as it was later in English) can refer to a young girl. The kit is from the 1970s and is very highly detailed and well molded with 600 pieces. This full-hull model features complete, separately molded deck fittings, cannons & carriages, Heller's excellent jig for ratlines, full rigging diagrams, full color flag sheet and more. NOTE: this kit has very minor assembly to 'professional' quality: four staircases (to the lower level) and glued to the underside of the main deck. There is no other assembly. Inventoried and all injection molded parts and metal chain is present but NOTE: missing vacuform sails. Complete with all other parts, color flag sheet and instructions.
This item has been sold.
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