The History of Empress Josephine CHROMOLITHOGRAPHIC TITLE PAGE

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851. Presumed First Edition. Hardcover. Good. Presumed First Edition. Hardcover. This 1851 edition of John S. C. Abbott's history of Joséphine Bonaparte features a stunning chromolithographic title page as well as an engraved frontispiece portrait of the Empress and 6 engraved plates throughout.

6 3/4" X 4 1/2". [xiii], 14-328pp, plus 4pp ads. Bound in blind-decorated and blind-ruled red cloth over boards, with spine lettered in gilt. Moderate wear to binding, with corners bumped, split, and turned in, open tears to head and tail of spine, including nearly 2" neat tear along edge of lower spine, soiling to boards, hard bump with tear to rear board, and lean to spine. Hinges tender and hint of spine to some pages. Binding remains quite sound. Birthday gift inscription dated July 9th, 1851 to front free endpaper. Yellow coated endpapers. Foxing and occasional smudging to pages throughout, else unmarked.