London: T. Tegg, etc. 1815. First Edition. Hardcover. The first edition in book form.

By 1815, Napoleon was a figure of mockery in England. This vicious satire of Bonaparte (1769-1821) makes its intentions clear with the allegorical title page, which shows the young Corsican as a revolutionary fire-brand in a Phrygian cap ascending a ladder whose rungs are Plunder, Bloodshed, and Murder, the last being the blade of a guillotine. At the top he sits in ermine astride the globe, before being cast off, scattering his treasure as he goes, to end huddled in exile. The poems itself pairs with the exquisite caricatures by George Cruikshank (1792-1878) to strike a whimsical tone.

Octavo: 260 p. with 30 hand-colored engraved plates, including the engraved title page. Expertly rebacked with a gilt-stamped brown calf spine over the contemporary full brown diced calf, with marbled endpapers and edges. Some general toning to the leaves opposite the plates, with occasional light foxing to the contents. Page 109 is misnumbered 107. The period ownership signature of Robert Leighton, Rose Hill, appears on a prefatory blank leaf. Overall, very good. Very good. Item #74380

Price: $1,250.00