JOSEPHINE, NAPOLEON'S MISTRESS

First edition, first printing, in the second state binding. Original green cloth lettered and ruled in black to spine and front panel, in dustwrapper. With twelve illustrated plates. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents, except for a previous owner's signature in ink to the front free endpaper, clean and bright throughout. There is a small breach between page gatherings (pp. 96-7) which doesn't, however, affect the binding which remains sound. The dustwrapper, a touch faded to the spine, a little rubbed to edges and corners, and with a couple of nicks to the head of the spine, is otherwise unusually sharp and well-preserved. Not price-clipped (10/6 net printed to the spine). A lovely copy, uncommon in the dustwrapper.

Mark Wilden, in his Forester bibliography, states that the first edition sheets were initially issued in blue-green cloth lettered in gilt, the same sheets later bound in the present (black on green) form. The second of Forester's sporadic works of (non-fiction) history, following 'Napoleon and his Court' published the previous year, 'Josephine' is a characteristically vivid account of the life and loves of the Empress and first wife of Napoleon. (Wilden 4a B2).