John Abbott (1805-1877) American, The History of Napoleon Bonaparte 2 Volume Set 1862. 

Size: (both) 9 3/4 X 6 5/8 X 1 1/2 in. 

This two-volume set of books is titled The History of Napoleon Bonaparte, written by John Stevens Cabot Abbott and published by Harper in 1862. The books are three-quarter bound, with gilt rules and gilt lettering on the spine and beautiful gilt starburst patterns on the covers, gilt-ruled borders on the front paste-down with gilt-decorated bees that symbolize Napoleon and his regime, both books are inscribed “Mrs. Sarah Erickson    from Aunt Sarah to Everett Gleason 1899” on a blank flyleaf in front, there’s an engraving of a stern Bonaparte on the frontis page in Volume I and an engraving of Napoleon with his hand inside his waistcoat on the frontis page in Volume II, the title page says there are maps and illustrations in the two books and they were published in New York by Harper & Brothers in 1862. The first edition was published in 1855, this set appears to be the third edition, according to WorldCat, and they are beautifully rebound. Volume I has a three-page Preface, six pages of contents (vii - xii), a two-page list of illustrations and maps (xiii - xiv), 611 pages of text and a portrait of Napoleon at the rear; Volume II has five pages of contents (iii -vii), a two-page list of illustrations and maps, and 666 pages of text and two pages of ads at the rear. The books measure 9 3/4 x 6 5/8 inches wide and are in really good condition, with tight bindings and clean pages and text for the most part. The gilt is bright and there are occasional brown spots in the margins and a few small corner creases, and that’s pretty much it, and the two book provide an in-depth look at the life and rule of Napoleon. Prices run up to nearly $500 for a first edition set.