The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte, Emperor of the French: With a Preliminary View of the French Revolution
By Sir Walter Scott. Philadelphia: J. & J. L. Gihon, 1853. Abbottsford Edition.
This is the original 1853 Philadelphia issue, printed as two volumes in one physical book. Both title pages are present: Vol. I and Vol. II. This is one book, not two separately bound volumes.
A substantial nineteenth-century American printing of Scott’s major history/biography of Napoleon, illustrated with engraved plates. Best suited to a Napoleon collector, historical-library project, bookbinder, or buyer seeking an authentic period reading/research copy to restore.
Condition
Poor / restoration condition; priced for condition. The binding case has failed badly. Both marbled boards are present, but the leather spine covering and leather corner material are extensively perished, peeled, and missing. Sewing cords/lining are exposed; the text block is loose in its case and should be handled carefully. There are long projecting thread/cord remnants, broken joints, and significant structural weakness.
The boards are rubbed and edge-worn, with a large amount of leather surface loss and heavy abrasion/soiling. Page edges are age toned and soiled. Interior leaves have scattered foxing/toning and handling wear. Several protective tissue sheets around the engraved illustrations are heavily wrinkled, creased, and torn. The supplied photos show engraved illustrations including “Napoleon” and “Battle of Jena.”
Both title pages are legible and dated 1853. The book is sold as a fragile, as-is restoration/rebinding copy. Every leaf and illustration has not been collated individually, so do not assume text or plate completeness beyond the photographed Vol. I and Vol. II title pages.
Please study all photos closely for the full condition. The book will be packed carefully in a rigid box, but it must be handled gently on arrival.