JOSEPHINE, NAPOLEON'S EMPRESS
Published by Metheun & Co, London, 1925
- First Edition
- Used





Seller: Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA), McMinnville, OR, U.S.A.Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA)
AbeBooks seller since March 21, 2000
Condition: Used
£ 6,073.14
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
216 x 140 mm. (8 1/2 x 5 1/2"). vii, [i], 246 pp. SUPERB CONTEMPORARY DEEP BLUE MOROCCO BY SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE FOR ASPREY, WITH MORE THAN 60 INLAYS, front cover with center medallion featuring inlaid teal blue crossed "J's," surrounded by gilt wreath and crown as well as inlaid pink flowers, lovely gilt floral sprays with more inlaid pink flowers in corners of both covers, raised bands, spine beautifully gilt and inlaid in the same floral vine pattern, DOUBLURES OF CRIMSON MOROCCO with inlaid blue flowers in corners, as well as an intricate series of patterned rules against deep blue morocco border, FRONT DOUBLURE WITH FINE INSET HAND-PAINTED IVORY MINIATURE OF JOSEPHINE, watered silk free end papers, gilt edges. In a slightly scuffed but sturdy and attractive morocco-backed plush-lined folding cloth box, gilt titling on spine. With 12 illustrations (all photographs of portraits), as called for. ◆A CHOICE BINDING IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. Our sumptuous binding would no doubt have pleased the subject of this work, known for her exquisite taste and love of beautiful things. When she met and captivated Napoleon Bonaparte in 1795, Josephine de Beauharnais (1763-1814) was a Martinique-born widow of an aristocrat who had died in the Reign of Terror. Josephine married the general in January of 1796, despite the fact that she was (a shocking) six years his senior. In this biography, the British writer C. S. Forester (1899-1966), best known for his beloved Horatio Hornblower series, portrays the empress with great sympathy. Sanford V. Sternlicht notes that in telling the dramatic story of her rise to the imperial throne and her fall when she was unable to produce an heir for the emperor, "Forester almost treats Josephine as a fictional character as he finely draws a portrait of a poorly educated but clever woman who . . . rolls with the punches of fate and outlives her foes." The so-called "Cosway" binding, featuring handsome morocco inset with one or more painted miniatures, apparently originated with the London bookselling firm of Henry Sotheran about 1909. It was in that year that G. C. Williamson's book entitled "Richard Cosway" (dealing with the British miniature painter of that name, 1742-1821) was remaindered by Sotheran and presumably given this special decorative treatment. The name "Cosway" was then used to describe any book so treated, whoever its author. Although the artist of our miniature is unidentified, the work here is remarkably well done, with carefully painted detail showing the empress at the prime of her life, bedecked with emeralds, pearls, and rubies, but with a sadness in her large brown eyes that foreshadows the heartbreak to come.…
Seller Inventory # ST17769j
Bibliographic details
- Title
- JOSEPHINE, NAPOLEON'S EMPRESS
- Author
- (BINDINGS - COSWAY-STYLE). (BONAPARTE, JOSEPHINE). FORESTER, C. S.
- Publisher
- Metheun & Co, London
- Publication year
- 1925
- Edition
- FIRST EDITION.
- Seller catalogs
- Bindings - Modern (1900-70), Biography and Memoir, Women - Books for or about
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA)
McMinnville, OR, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 2 to 7 business days | 2 to 4 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 7.56 | £ 11.34 |
Payment methods
- Bank Wire Transfer
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- Money Order
Specialty
Early Printing, Bindings, English Literature, Illuminated Manuscripts, Rare Books, Fine Illustrated Books, American Literature, Press Books, IncunablesAssociation member
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.Seller's business information
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA)
OR, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
Payment: We accept checks, money orders, Visa, Master Card, American Express and wire transfers. If you are a first time customer, we wait for payment to be received before sending out your order.
Shipping: Shipping and insurance are extra. We usually ship USPS Priority, but other options available to the client including FedEx, or UPS.
Returns: Your satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteed. If you buy an item from us and discover that you are not satisfied with it, you may return it within 10 days of receipt for a refund, so long as the item has not been damaged.
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books
2205 NW Nut Tree Lane
PO Box 504
McMinnville, OR 97128
Email: info@pirages.com
Ph: 800-962-6666 or 503-472-0476
Fax: 503-472-5029
Tax ID No. 93-1163989
Employees: Cokie Anderson, Michal Alkoff, David Clark, Tammy Opheim
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books is a sole proprietorship.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA), McMinnville, Oregon, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
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