The Table Talk and Opinions of Napoleon Buonaparte

London: Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, 1870. Third edition. Fine. Sixteenmo (146 x 99 mm). [iv], [i]-iv, [1]-199, [1, blank] pp. Title-page printed in red and black and with oval portrait of Napoleon. Head and tailpieces throughout the text.

Exquisitely bound in richly gilt, full blue crushed levant morocco ca. 1920 by Riviere and Sons, with their stamp on the lower front turn-in, and that of Mrs. C.B. Currie on the rear turn-in. Front and rear covers with gilt rules framing an inset portrait (diameter 67 mm.), painted by Miss C. B. Currie, whose signature appears in gilt on the rear doublure. The full-length miniature painting on the front cover shows Napoleon II as a child, his face cherubic but his attire militaristic, kneeling in prayer. The gilt titling describes the scene: "The King of Rome" at head and "Je prie dieu pour mon Pere et pour la France" ("I pray to God for my Father and for France") at foot. The miniature painting on the lower cover, also 67 mm. in diameter, is a half-length portrait depicting Napoleon II, likewise dressed in regalia, holding a bicorn hat, decorated with a pin and a bunch of violets. Housed in the original fleece-lined blue cloth slipcase. A very Fine and exquisite example of a real Cosway binding.

Caroline Billin Curry (1849 - 1940), usually credited as "Miss C.B. Currie," was one of the most skillful book craftspeople of her day. She became famous for her miniature paintings, which first appeared on the so-called "Cosway" bindings (named in honor of the portraitist Richard Cosway) created in the Riviere bindery for Henry Sotheran Booksellers. Later she expanded her work into the art of fore-edge painting. The Cosway style, rooted in the artistry of Curry and the Riviere bookbinders, was later adopted by many other binderies and became a popular aesthetic for luxury books.

Provenance: Stephen Ratcliffe. Cosway Bindings [p. 30]; Swann Galleries New York, 14 January 1993, lot 277. Fine.