The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, by W. H. Ireland, Fine Leather Bindings, 1828 

The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte.  Ireland, W. H.  London: John Cumberland, 1828.  Four volume set, complete.  First edition set. An absolutely spectacular set, one of the most handsome I've seen.  Full maroon Morocco leather, with gilt vignette illustrations on each corner of the front and back covers and gilt rules.  Gilt titles and elaborate gilt designs in six compartments on the spine, five raised bands -- plus the date each individual volume was published in gilt at the bottom (1823, 1825, 1827 and 1828). Pages gilt tipped on the three edges.  Gilt detailing on the front and back inside covers, brown endpapers. 

The volumes are lavishly illustrated, with 27 total folding plates, most by George Cruikshank.  Twenty-three are hand colored. The frontispiece folding plates have tissue guards. Title pages have Napoleon's crest.  Handsome foldout portraits of Napoleon and Josephine -- all the illustrations are gorgeous.

The volumes are in very good condition --  Three volumes have the original green ribbon bookmark. Volume 1 is fragile at the hinge, slightly cracked. All the gilt is still bright, no ownership inscriptions or bookplates and otherwise in especially nice condition.