1847 Life of Henry IV GPR James 2 Vol Set | First American Edition | Antique French History Books | Red Gold Gilt Books

1847 “THE LIFE OF HENRY THE FOURTH,
KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE”

By G. P. R. James, Esq.

Volumes I & II — Complete Two-Volume Set

Harper & Brothers, Publishers
82 Cliff Street
New York
1847

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION

A striking complete two-volume First American Edition of G. P. R. James’s historical biography of Henry IV of France, published by Harper & Brothers in New York in 1847.

Both volumes retain their handsome original red publisher’s cloth bindings, elaborately decorated with blind-stamped ornamental borders and designs and large gold-gilt royal armorial devices to the front boards.

The spines are especially decorative, featuring extensive scrolling gilt ornamentation, gilt titles, author, volume numbers and Harper & Brothers imprint.

The beautifully printed title pages incorporate both black and red typography.

Published in the same year as the work’s original British publication, this Harper & Brothers issue represents the First American Edition and is complete in its original two-volume format.

Henry IV (1553–1610), King of France and Navarre, was one of the most consequential monarchs of early modern France. His reign followed decades of religious conflict during the French Wars of Religion. Born Protestant, Henry later converted to Catholicism and eventually issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598, granting substantial religious protections to French Protestants and helping restore stability to the kingdom.

G. P. R. James (George Payne Rainsford James, 1801–1860) was a prolific British novelist and historical writer whose works frequently explored European political and royal history.

An exceptionally attractive nearly 180-year-old matched set for collectors of French history, Henry IV, early American publishing, 19th-century historical works, Harper & Brothers publications, or decorative antique books.

COMPLETE TWO-VOLUME SET
1847
FIRST AMERICAN EDITION
HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK
ORIGINAL RED PUBLISHER’S CLOTH
ELABORATE GILT & BLIND-STAMPED DECORATION

🛑 PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE CONDITION DESCRIPTION AND EXAMINE ALL PHOTOGRAPHS CLOSELY BEFORE PURCHASING. 🛑

CONDITION:

Fair to Good antique condition overall, conservatively described. Condition varies between the two volumes.

Both volumes exhibit substantial age-, shelf-, storage-, handling- and use-related wear consistent with books published in 1847.

Original red cloth boards exhibit varying degrees of fading/darkening, discoloration, staining, soiling, rubbing, scratches and markings. Board edges and corners exhibit bumping, rubbing, fraying and localized cloth/material loss.

The elaborate gilt decoration remains substantially visible and attractive, although it exhibits age-related rubbing, fading, scratches and localized loss.

Spines exhibit rubbing, fading, fraying, edge/joint wear and areas of cloth loss.

IMPORTANT: Volume II exhibits significant damage and material loss at the head of the spine, with portions of the exterior spine covering torn, fragmented and/or absent and underlying binding structure exposed. Remaining material in this area is fragile and should be handled carefully.

Exterior spine/joint areas on both volumes exhibit varying degrees of wear and localized splitting/tearing.

Bindings and hinges presently remain substantially intact and functional upon general inspection, but given the age and exterior binding wear—particularly the damage to Volume II—careful handling is strongly recommended.

Interior pages exhibit varying degrees of age-related toning, foxing, spotting, staining, soiling and handling/thumbing marks.

Page edges exhibit age-related toning, discoloration, rubbing, scratches, marks and marring.

No formal page-by-page bibliographic collation has been performed. Both Volume I and Volume II are present and constitute the complete published American two-volume set; however, completeness of every individual leaf, blank or ancillary element has not been independently verified.

Please carefully examine all photographs, including close-up photographs of the binding and spine damage, as they form an important part of the condition description.

SOLD TOGETHER AS A COMPLETE TWO-VOLUME SET.

**Some photographs have been adjusted to better show fine details.**

**Due to lighting and photographic conditions, red cloth and gilt decoration may appear brighter or more vibrant in photographs than under ordinary lighting.**

******PROPS, FLOWERS, VASES, DIAMONDS, SCULPTURES, OTHER BOOKS AND DECORATIVE OBJECTS SHOWN IN PHOTOGRAPHS ARE NOT INCLUDED.******