FIRST EDITION OF BUSSEY'S HISTORY OF NAPOLEON, RICHLY ILLUSTRATED

(NAPOLEON) BUSSEY, George Moir. History of Napoleon. London: Joseph Thomas, 1840. Two volumes. Large octavo, modern full crimson morocco gilt, raised bands, tan morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers. $1100.

First edition of Bussey’s excellent early biography of Napoleon, with frontispiece and numerous in-text wood-engraved illustrations by Horace Vernet, attractively bound.

A highly readable record of Napoleon's personal life and military career, with a preliminary sketch of the French Revolution. Published only 15 years after Waterloo, Bussey aims "to review the Life of Napoleon as a whole; not only in its chivalric details, but as to its influence upon the state and prospects of Europe, and the progress of civilization throughout the world" (Preface). Lowndes, 1649.

Volume I frontispiece a bit foxed, infrequent marginal foxing to generally clean text, full morocco-gilt bindings attractive and fine.