National Portrait Gallery of Eminent Americans: Orators, Statesmen, Naval and Military Heroes, Jurists, Authors, Etc. Etc. (1862, First Edition | Duyckinck/Chappel Full Leather Morocco Gilt

Two-volume set of Evert A. Duyckinck’s National Portrait Gallery of Eminent Americans: Orators, Statesmen, Naval and Military Heroes, Jurists, Authors, Etc., Etc. (New York: Johnson, Fry & Co., circa 1862) — First Edition.
This handsome tall quarto set (8¼″ × 11¼″) features over 100 steel-engraved portraits (many by Alonzo Chappel) with tissue guards, each accompanied by biographical and historical narratives of leading American figures from the Revolution through mid-19th century. The volumes are bound in full morocco leather gilt, with raised bands and all edges gilt — a striking example of Victorian era luxury binding.
Bindings are tight; pages clean and bright with only light scattered foxing in the early leaves. Volume I: 488 pp.; Volume II: 502 pp. Scarce in this condition and especially appealing to collectors of American leadership, presidential portraiture, early steelface illustration and decorative fine binding.

Full leather morocco gilt binding with minor wear at corners/spine tips; raised bands sharp; edges gilt bright; endpapers slightly toned; text blocks clean; occasional light foxing near front of each volume; plates with tissue guards intact; bindings firm.

Condition: Very Good + — Full leather morocco gilt binding with minor wear at corners/spine tips; raised bands sharp; edges gilt bright; endpapers slightly toned; text blocks clean; occasional light foxing near front of each volume; plates with tissue guards intact; bindings firm.

Scarce

Extraordinarily beautiful!

A distinguished addition to any library of presidential history, American biographical portraiture or fine bindings.