[STEWARTON, J., attrib]

Revolutionary Plutarch. Containing the Biographical, Historical and Secret Memoirs of the Buonaparte Family. First American Edition, with Additions, Original and Selected

Baltimore: G. Keatinge & L. Frailey, 1806. First American Edition. Octavo in fours (21cm). Contemporary tree calf; red morocco spine label; viii,[9]-303pp. Slight wear to board edges; upper 1" of title page clipped to remove a signature (see note); scattered foxing: a sound, Very Good copy. With ownership signature of a "George R. Ives" to verso of front flyleaf.

An anonymous, rabidly anti-Napoleonic work, documenting the atrocities and absurdities committed by Napoleon's supporters (and by extension, in the author's mind, supporters of any revolutionary movement). Variously attributed to a "J. Stewarton" (qv. Shaw & Shoemaker) and to the British pamphleteer Lewis Goldsmith (Halkett & Laing, Dictionary of Anonymous & Pseudonymous English Literature). The American edition, though claiming to contain "additions," would in fact appear to be an abridged piracy of the three-volume London edition of 1804. This copy bears an early and anonymous bookseller's note in pencil to front flyleaf: "1st American Edition 1806 / Napoleon's autograph cut from top of title page c.1900." SHAW & SHOEMAKER 11411.

Price: $200.00

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