A very good copy of the scarce 1824 2nd edition of "Romances, Mises en Musique par Hortense Duchesse de Saint-Leu, ex-reine de Hollande." Preceded only by the rare 1814 limited edition gift reserved only for close friends and family. The 1824 edition is written in French and published in London by Cox & Baylis. The collection features musical compositions by Hortense de Beauharnais, the Duchess of Saint-Leu and former Queen of Holland. She was the daughter of Empress Josephine and became the wife of Napoleons brother Louis who became King of Holland in 1806. The book includes the illustrated title page, the frontis portrait of Hortense beautifully rendered by artist Jean-Baptiste Isabey, a facsimile letter from Hortense to the Comte de Lagarde, the four-page editors forward written by de Lagarde and a biographical notice highlighting Hortense’s musical talent and her place among esteemed composers of the time. Featured here are the twelve scores for piano and voice composed by Hortense on twelve unnumbered leaves each accompanied by an engraving in aquatint by William Read and printed in sepia from drawings made by Hortense herself. Condition: Oblong 4to - 9.25 x 11.75" paper boards over cloth spine with wear to the edges, corners rubbed and bumped, some creasing to the paper of a few pages, a crease with some chipping to the front endpapers, hinges cracked, creasing with loss to a few lower corner tips and intermittent foxing most notable to the music scores and engraved plates. Overall, a very good copy of this scarce and sought after title.