Edward Gibbon; John Lord SheffieldBiblio.com
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1796010164London: Printed for A. Strahan and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies Successors to Mr. Cadell in the Strand 1796. Book. Very Good. Half Mottled Calf. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Two volumes a third volume was published separately in 1815 by John Murray not included. xxv 1 errata 703 viii 726 1 errata ads verso pages. Bound in contemporsry half mottled calf over marbled boards marbled end papers the armorial bookplates of Moncure Biddle front paste downs. Very Good Vol. I missing volume label Vol. II missing title label bookplate in Vol. II partially removed wear at joints and spine ends. With one sheet handwritten partial translation from French to English of Gibbon's letter to Mons. Deverdun dated 20 May 1783 laid in at p. 570 Vol. I where the letter is printed in French. No attribution to the letter although given the provenance of the Moncure Biddle bookplate likely in the hand of John Lord Sheffield. Investment banker Moncure Biddle was.a famous bibliophile and connoisseur of editions of the classics. The translation is in handwritten ink on paper similar to the paper used In the book and has many corrections. A quite intriguing addition indeed. Printed for A. Strahan, and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies, (Successors to Mr. Cadell,) in the Strand, Hardcover
1796B2570London: A. Strahan T. Cadell jr. & W. Davies c. 1796. Occasional light foxing otherwise an excellent copy text is clean and crisp. Edition: First edition Binding: Contemporary full tree calf with gilt greek-tooled border rebacked expertly in seven compartments of gilt-tooled bands and gilt floral motifs gilt red and yellow morocco labels on two and five respectively. Notes: During his life Edward Gibbon made several attempts at writing his memoirs. After his death these were pieced together by his close friend Lord Sheffield who added letters and additional writings. A third volume of miscellaneous works was added in 1815. Size: 4to Illustration: Ex-libris on front paste-down endpaper. With frontis silhouette portrait. Volume: Two volumes. References: Rothchild 948 Pages: P. Volume 1. frontis title blank iii-xxv 1 1-703; Volume 2. title blank iii-viii 1-726 errata advertisement. Category: Book Biography A. Strahan, T. Cadell jr., & W. Davies unknown
1796202758London: Strahan 1796. hardcover. very good. Frontispiece portrait 2 vols. large 4to bound in full mottled calf rubbed green leather spine labels; light foxing on a few pages otherwise fine. London: A. Strahan T. Cadell Jun W. Davies 1796. Very good <br/> <br/> Strahan unknown
1782LL6375W. Strahan & T. Cadell 1782. ~DATE RANGE: 1782-1788 ~FULL PAGINATION: vii 13 704 8 640 8 640 viii 8 620 8 684 10 646 52pp ~First edition of vols IV-VI; new edition of vols I-III. Vol. I is 1782 ESTC T78359 Norton 26. Vols II & III are 1787 ESTC N36543 Norton 27. Vols IV-VI are 1788 ESTC T78365 Norton 29. Frontis portrait to vol. I by Hall after Joshua Reynolds. 3 maps 1 to vol. II; 2 folding to rear of vol. V. Half titles to vols II-VI. Index and errata page to vol. VI. Early full tan calf boards framed in double gilt fillets. Ornate gilt decor to board edges and turn-ins. Rebacked in near-matching tan calf. Raised bands and brown gilt label per spine. 4tos 22 x 27.3cm. Mild wear to board corners and edges. Hinges just starting to crack in vol.6 only other hinges sound. All edges marbled in Stormont pattern reinforced at gutters with old repair probably when rebacked. Hinges sound. Early replacement blank endpages some with 1819 watermark. All vols signed to top t.p. by G. Kinnear perhaps George Kinnear 1751-1823 of the Edinburgh-based banking family. Old repair to fore-edge of map of the Western Roman Empire with minor loss to edge of image. Small 1cm single tear to edge of each folding map. Old repairs / reinforcements to fore-edges of sigs a-a3 in vol. I with a little damp-rippling to edges of these same pages but no loss to text. Mild occasional foxing severe on a few pages. A very few old annotations to margins in some vols. Gibbon's masterpiece first published between 1776 and 1788 'occupies the summit of European Enlightenment historiography'; 'remarkable for the way Gibbon pushed at the edges of received opinions and found fresh and fruitful ways of linking approaches and subjects which elsewhere lay unconnected' ODNB. A handsome solid square set. ~Robust packaging. Overseas orders trackable on request. Used books are exempt from USA tariffs. Hardback. Hardback. Very Good/Fine. c. 700pp. per vol. W. Strahan & T. Cadell Hardcover
1787declineromanJ J Tourneisen 1787. Hardcover. Pages generally clean with light/Fine leather binding with raise. 9" by 6. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. 6 volumes complete 1787 printed by J J Tourneisen. 1st revised edition. Printed for sale by Pissot in Paris. Fine typography English textFine leather binding with raised spines and gold emboss decoration. Pages generally clean with light foxing throughout all volumes. Bindings all tight boards have bumps to corners. Volume 2 missing front cover and volume five separated front cover and partial separation to rear cover. Leather still supple and smooth to touch. J J Tourneisen hardcover
1783978F8London: W. Strahan; and T. Cadell 1783-1790. Leather. Good. 8.5" by 5.5". Not Stated. The very scarce complete first octavo edition of Gibbons's 'Decline and Fall' tracing Western civilization from the height of the Roman Empire to the fall of Byzantium in the 15th century. The very scarce complete first octavo edition of Gibbons' famous work uniformly bound in full calf. While billed as 'A New Edition' to the title pages these volumes are all the very scarce first octavo edition.Volumes I-III of Gibbons's magnum opus were first published between between 1776 and 1781 in three quarto volumes and are here found bound in six volumes in the very scarce first octavo edition dated 1783. ESTC T78366Volumes IV-VI were first published in quarto volumes between 1788 and 1789 and are here found bound in six volumes and in the very scarce first octavo editions dated 1790. ESTC T78370Illustrated with a portrait frontispiece to volume I a folding map to volume II two large folding maps to the rear of volume VI. Collated complete.Gibbon here offers a condensed detailed and thorough history of the fall of the Roman Empire covering a period from 98 to 1590. He further explores the history of Europe Christianity and the Church.Gibbon has been criticized for his flawed interpretations of various religions with his scathing views on Christianity leading the book to be banned in several countries upon its publication.Volumes VI-XII retaining half titles. With the bookplates of W. Combes to front pastedown of volume I. In contemporary calf bindings with gilt detailing to back strips and boards. Significant rubbing to back strips most concentrated to tails and with small losses to back strip heads. Minor losses to perimeters of a small number of spine labels. Joints of volume I starting with front board somewhat tender. Head of front joint of volume III IV VI VII IX X strained and generally firmly held. Joints of volumes XI and XI starting and a touch tender. Remaining hinges strained but firmly held. Bookplates to front pastedown of volume I. Internally firmly bound. Pages a touch age toned due to paper type otherwise clean and bright. Good W. Strahan; and T. Cadell hardcover
1784187960Dublin: printed for W. Wilson 1784. An early pirated Irish set The first half of Gibbons's magisterial history printed before the release of the final volumes in 1788. Dublin booksellers swiftly issued their own editions as soon as the first volume was published in 1776 and sold them at a lower price in England. "Such piracy was advertisement as well as competition" and Gibbon himself remarked that they "have printed it very well" Norton p. 94. 6 vols octavo 206 x 128 mm. With 3 folding maps. Contemporary sprinkled calf flat spines divided into compartments by gilt rolls red and green morocco labels. Contemporary bookplates. Craquelure to spines loss to ends with some restored bindings marked corners worn contents fresh loss to vol. 4 rear free endpaper and corner of vol. 5 p. 401 text not affected. A very good set. Jane E. Norton A bibliography of the works of Edward Gibbon 1970. unknown
178472472twelve volumes in six of the pirated Dublin editions; the first 3 volumes are published by W. Wilson the later three by Luke White. Each contains two volumes of 300-400 pages. 4 plates including 3 fold out maps and 1 portrait frontispiece. Published by W. Wilson and Luke White hardcover
1783046022W. Strahan And T. Cadell In The Strand. Very Good- with no dust jacket. 1783 new edition. Hardcover. Hardcover; Hardcover 6 volume set. Leather boards with beautiful rebacked spines. Boards show edge wear and bumping. Scuffing and rubbing. Newer decorative spines with titles in gold over brown leather labels and volume numbers in gold over black leather labels. Hinges are nice and tight due to the new spines. Fore edge and endpaper soil text pages show occasional foxing. Maps in volumes I and II are in nice condition. Always carefully wrapped and shipped in cardboard boxes to protect your purchase.; 8VO . W. Strahan And T. Cadell In The Strand hardcover
17967055<b><i>Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon Esquire. With Memoirs of His Life and Writings Composed by Himself: Illustrated From His Letters. With Occasional Notes and Narratives by John Lord Sheffield.</i></b> <br /><br />4to.<b> Bound in original publisher's boards</b> rebacked in cloth original paper labels on spines with the price of 4 shillings preserved on the label for the third volume; in slipcases.<br /><br />London: Printed for A. Strahan and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies. <b>1796. 2 volumes. <br /></b><br /><b>Together with the third volume</b> London Printed for John Murray . . . <b>1815. First Edition</b>. Frontispiece in volume I and III. Rare errata leaf in volume II. Untrimmed throughout with deckle edges. <br /><br />Comprising the first appearance in print of Gibbon's "Memoirs" one of the earliest and finest of literary autobiographies; plus the first published collection of Gibbon's correspondence. Also included is the "Essay on the Study of Literature" in English and in its French original; plus copious and entertaining notes on Buffon and Walpole among others. <br /><br />Early 19th century bookplate of George Home Drummond of Blair Drummond on the front endpaper of each volume. <br /><br />Occasional minor foxing in the first and second volumes; small puncture hole in the lower outer corner of the final leaves of the third volume. The original spines of the first and third volumes are laid-in the first volume. Internal hinges of the first volume are somewhat weakened. Boards show minor to moderate wear at the corners and edges. Otherwise a clean wide-margined untrimmed copy. Very Rare in original boards. A. Strahan, T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies hardcover
1796135133London: Printed for A. Strahan and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies 1796. First edition of Gibbon’s memoirs letters and additional works posthumously collected and published by his closest friend John Baker Holroyd 1st Earl of Sheffield. Quarto bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards morocco spine labels lettered in gilt elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands engraved frontispiece portrait of Gibbon. In near fine condition. A very attractive example of one of the first modern autobiographies published in the English language. When Gibbon died in 1794 he left his personal papers to Lord Sheffield who carefully selected and edited them. “Few men I believe have ever so fully unveiled their own character by a minute narrative of their sentiments and pursuits as Mr. Gibbon will here be found to have done; not with study and labour-not with an affected frankness-but with a genuine confession of his little foibles and peculiarities and a good-humoured and natural display of his own conduct and opinions.†Gibbon's Memoirs are considered one of the first autobiographies in the modern sense of the word and have a secure place in the canon of English literature. Printed for A. Strahan, and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies hardcover
178785193Basil Paris: J.J. Tourneisen Pissot 1787. Hardcover Octavo. Hardcover. Good. leather spine gilt lettering red papered boards 434474403431426411 pp spines and boards are lightly scuffed no marks to endpapers or pages top edge darkened <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Standard shipping no tracking / Priority with tracking / Custom quote for large or heavy orders. J.J. Tourneisen, Pissot hardcover
1788206212London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell in the Strand 1788. Third edition of Vol. 1 First editions of Vols. 2-6. Neat contemporary ownership signatures; hinges worn and most covers detached or nearly so; spines dried and flaking; extremities rubbed; portrait in Vol. 1 foxed otherwise the set is internally clean and with only scattered marking and soil a few inoffensive spots of foxing. Six volumes uniform 4tos; frontispiece portrait of Gibbon from a painting by Joshua Reynolds I: 3 vi-vi 18 1-704; II: 10 1-640 with folding map between pp. 22-23 1 errata; III: 10 1-640 1 errata; IV: i ii-viii 8 1-620; V: 8 1-684; VI: 12 1-646 51 General Index 1 errata; contemporary three-quarter calf and marbled boards; folding map loosely inserted in Volume 1; bound without half-titles. Complete set of the indelible work that invented the modern discipline of history writing. Offered together with the three volumes of Gibbon's Miscellaneous Works 1796-1815 in full calf. Additional shipping charge required. Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand unknown
1779166741Paris: Chez la veuve Duchesne 1779. A rival view of the virtues of republican Rome First edition from the Lausanne library of Edward Gibbon with the earlier simpler form of his bookplate on the front pastedown. Butel-Dumont's views on the virtues of republican Rome differ widely from Gibbon's and might indeed have been taken as a direct criticism of them Gibbon's landmark history having first appeared just three years before in 1776. Georges-Marie Butel-Dumont 1725-1788 was a great admirer of English political economy. He was one of the first in France to write extensively about the British North American colonies in his Histoire et commerce des colonies anglaises 1755; in the same year he published a translation and enlargement of John Cary's Essay on the State of England 1695 as Essai sur l'état du commerce d'Angleterre. The present volume represents his last published work continuing the overarching argument of his Theory of Luxury 1771. "Not only did the modern world order require an overthrow of antiquated moralities but it entailed a concomitant overthrow of nostalgia for the ancient world itself. Rome had been but a brutish vampire state that no agrarian virtue could redeem no matter what the Fénelonians argued. Romans had preyed on the industry of others and one could only pray to 'heaven' that such a nation never appeared again on the 'face of the earth'" Reinert p. 185. Provenance: 1 Edward Gibbon 1737-1794 with his first state bookplate from his Lausanne library; 2 purchased in 1796 by William Beckford 1760-1844 who famously bought Gibbon's whole Lausanne library "to have something to read"; 3 by gift from Beckford to Gibbon's physician Dr Frederic Schöll d. 1835; 4 sold by him in 1825 to John Walter Halliday residing near Geneva; 5 Halliday's house and library acquired by Charles Bedot; 6 by descent to his son the marine biologist Maurice Bedot 1859-1927; 7 sold at auction 20 Dec 1934 Sotheby's to Maggs; 8 Sir John Russell 1872-1965 for the Rothamsted Experimental Station library for its agricultural content with discreet ink acquisition number dated 1937 and circular inkstamp of Rothamsted Experimental Station to front pastedown. Octavo 199 x 125 mm. Contemporary tan polished calf smooth spine richly gilt in compartments red morocco label brown edges. Front joint a little tender occasional trivial mark to contents else a fine copy. Keynes Gibbon's Library p. 84. Sophus A. Reinert Translating Empire: Emulation and the Origins of Political Economy 2011. unknown
177644482London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell 1776-88. Six volumes volume I second edition volumes II-VI first edition. 4to. Recent panelled calf spines with raised bands the old twin spine labels preserved a few with repair and renewed gilt with gilt decoration to the other panels the 19th century armorial bookplates of Lord Rendlesham "Labore et Honore" retained to the front pastedowns. Portrait frontispiece in volume I plus 3 folding maps. A handsome set. London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell unknown
1781001414London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell 1781. Six volumes complete 1781-1788 - Volume One pub. 1782 - 3 iv-vii 13 704pp; Volume Two pub. 1781 - 10 640pp 2; Volume Three pub. 1781 - 10 640pp; Volume Four pub. 1788 - 2 i-viii 8 1-620pp; Volume Five pub. 1788 - 10 1-684pp and Volume Six pub. 1788 - 12 1-646pp 52. Contemporary full tree calf later rebacked with original backstrips laid on smooth backs with spines in seven panels title label to second panel volume label to fourth panels one five and seven with central lozenge shaped tool and roundel corner pieces in gilt panels three and six with fleoron roll in gilt Greek key roll to board edges of covers rope roll to board edges. Spine labels chipped partially obscuring one or two corners bumped and worn a few minor bumps and scrapes to covers. Internally generally lightly browned some light foxing and some staining to margins light damp stain to fore edges of text block. The folding map and the first two signatures of volume two are foxed closed tear to foot of N2 catching text but with no loss and signatures 3H and 3I are lightly foxed; in volume three there is a small nick with loss to top margin of a4 and a stain to Nn1 catching text but with no loss of sense; and volume four with light water staining to signature O catching text but with no loss of sense. Lacking half-titles. Portrait frontispiece engraved by Hall after Reynolds and folding map to volume one and two folding maps to volume two. See Norton 26 with the misprint on page 624 which Norton notes probably means that this edition was set up from a copy of the fourth and that volumes two and three called the second edition are really a reissue of the first with cancel titles and half titles Norton page 53. Reprint. Full Calf. Good. 4to. W. Strahan and T. Cadell hardcover
178254807London: Printed for W. or A. Strahan and T. Cadell 1782. First edition in part. Hardcover. Very good. Six volumes large quarto 28.3 by 22 cm published between 1782 and 1788. Engraved frontispiece portrait 3 engraved maps 2 large folding; 1 full-page; general index and errata; printed marginalia. Full contemporary diced calf expertly rebacked to style; light rubbing/wear at extremities; covers ruled in gilt; spine with raised bands ruled and lettered in gilt; marbled edges and endleaves; gilt turn-ins. Text lightly toned throughout with occasional smudges and light foxing largely confined to top margin; tear at leaf Aa2 vol. 1 extending into text expertly repaired; very occasional light pencil underlinings and annotations at margins else a very good amply-margined set with fine maps.<br /> <br /> Mixed set comprising three volumes of "A New Edition" vols. 1-3 and three volumes of the first edition vols. 4-6. First conceived by Edward Gibbon 1737-1794 amidst the ruins of Rome on 15 October 1764 the first edition of the work was issued serially the first volume appearing in 1776 the final three in 1788. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works. a comprehensive picture of the whole Mediterranean world from the death of Marcus Aurelius A.D. 180 to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. To this task Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equalled to this day; and the result was clothed in an inimitable prose. It was his good fortune as Lytton Strachey observed that 'the material with which he had to cope was still just not too voluminous to be digested by a single extremely competent mind. In the following century even a Gibbon would have collapsed under the accumulated mass of knowledge at his disposal'" PMM.<br /> <br /> The Decline and Fall was a notable publishing success; the print run of the first volume was expanded by William Strahan from 500 to 1000 copies and sold out in less than two weeks. Among the more progressive-minded savants in the literary and academic world it was well received: "From the chorus of praise the admiration of Adam Ferguson Joseph Warton and Horace Walpole must have been deeply gratifying. It was however David Hume's letter of congratulation which according to Gibbon 'overpaid the labour of ten years.'" ODNB. But Hume's praise was laced with warning. He believed that despite Gibbon's "very prudent temperament" in discussing the origins and early history of Christianity in the 15th and 16th chapters of the first volume "it was impossible to treat the subject so as not to give grounds of suspicion against you and you may expect that a clamour will arise" quoted in ODNB. These chapters did indeed arouse heated condemnation from Christians of all denominations and Gibbon made extensive revisions to them in the three subsequent editions of the first volume and in the New Edition which appears in the present set.<br /> <br /> The engraved frontispiece after Sir Joshua Reynold's acclaimed portrait originally appeared in the first edition of the second volume. All three maps are dated 1781. References: Carter and Muir Printing and the Mind of Man 222; ESTC T78359 vol. 1 - N36543 vols. 2-3 - T78365 vols. 4-6; J. Norton A Bibliography of the Works of Edward Gibbon pp. 26 27 29; D. Womersley "Edward Gibbon" in: ODNB.<br /> <br /> Vol. 1 1782 - A New Edition: vii title and preface 13: advertisement and contents 704 pp; engraved frontispiece portrait. With original preface Bentinck-Street Feb 1 1776; postscript March 1 1781; new preface March 1 1782. <br /> <br /> Vol. 2 1787 - A New Edition: 10: title and contents 640 pp; full-page map " A Map of the Parts of Europe and Asia Adjacent to Constantinople" full-page; "A Map of the Eastern Part of the Roman Empire" large folding<br /> <br /> Vol. 3 1787 - A New Edition: 10: title and contents 640 pp; "A Map of the Western Part of the Roman Empire large folding.<br /> <br /> Vol. 4 1788: 2: title viii preface 8: contents 620 pp. <br /> <br /> Vol. 5 1788: 10: title and contents 684 pp.<br /> <br /> Vol. 6 1788: 12: title and contents 646 52: general index and errata pp. Printed for W. (or A.) Strahan and T. Cadell hardcover
179776088London:: A. Strahan; T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies 1797. The fifth octavo edition. old full calf; gilt paneled and decorated spines; red and green gilt-lettered spine labels; and the gilt initials of the distinguished original owner at the base of the spines. This set was partially exposed to water at the rear of the bookcase in which they were housed since publication. Eleven of the volumes exhibit faint dampstaining predominately at the fore-edge. One of the 24 gilt-lettered spine labels is absent and beneath that is a coin-sized chip to the spine. There is a small chip and the beginning of a split to the front joint of Vol. V. Vol. IV sustained more damage: the paper swelled and split three quarters of the rear joint. The paper has returned to its original shape but a gap of 1-8 to 1-4" remains at the rear joint. Even this volume remains tight and sound. . 8vo. Engraved frontispiece portrait; three folding maps. Norton 39. A. Strahan; T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies, unknown
17771008Y16London: Printed for A. Strahan 1777-1788. Leather. Very Good. 11.5" by 9". Not Stated . A pleasing quarto set of Edward Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' including three first editions. Edward Gibbon's sweeping history on the rise rule and fall of the Roman Empire covering from the year 98 to 1590. Its enduring popularity has resulted in his Enlightenment-era perspective still being the dominant narrative about the Roman Empire to the present day.Comprising the first editions of Volume IV V and VI the third edition of Volume I the second edition of Volume II and an unknown edition of Volume III due to lack of title page. Complete in six volumes.Uniformly bound in a later half crushed morocco with marbled paper covered boards and morocco spine labels. Renewed endpapers. Complete with the three folding maps two to Volume II and and one to Volume III. Frontispiece portrait of Gibbon to Volume II. Half titles bound to all except for Volume I and Volume III. Lacking original blanks to Volume I and II.The six volumes cover from 98 to 1590 the peak of the Roman Empire the history of early Christianity and its emergence as the Roman state religion the fall of the Western Roman Empire the rise of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane and the fall of Byzantium as well as discussions on the ruins of Ancient Rome.Volume I 1777 Volume II 1781 - With final errata leaf. Volume III - Lacking title page thus undated and lacking original blanks. With errata leaf for Vol III and table of contents for Vol I. Volume IV 1788 Volume V 1788 Volume VI 1788 - With index. Errata for Vol IV-VI printed to verso of final Index leaf. Uniformly bound in a later half crushed morocco with marbled paper covered boards and morocco spine labels. With the odd ink mark to the boards. Fading to the spine labels. Pages are generally bright and clean with light occasional spotting to majority of volumes. More consistent scattered spotting throughout Volume III with a couple tide marks to the first few contents pages. Tape marks to Volume I title page. Very Good Printed for A. Strahan hardcover
1782597L2London: W Strahan; T Cadell 1782-1788. First edition. Leather. Good. 11" by 9". None. Very early and part first editions of Edward Gibbon's seminal work on the Roman Empire. Illustrated with a frontispiece and three engraved maps. Volume I is dated 1782 Volume II is dated 1781 Volume III is dated 1781 Volume IV V and VI are dated 1788 Volume I is a 'New Edition' volumes II and III are the 'Second Edition' with volumes IV-VI being first editions. With the bookplate of Thomas Baring as well as the bookplate for Netley Castle to all volumes at the pastedowns. These books were likely to have been owned by Sir Thomas Baring 2nd Baronet. Baring was a British banker and Member of Parliament. He was an MP of High Wycombe and Hampshire until 1831. He also resided in Hampshire until his death. Netley Castle is a former artillery fort in the Hampshire village of Netley. Volumes II IV and V are rebacked with the original spine relaid and boards preserved. Two maps to volume II one folding. Errata to the rear of volume II and III. Errata to the rear of volume VI for volumes IV V and VI. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire traces the trajectory of Western civilisation from the height of the Roman Empire to the fall of Byzantium and therefore spans a nearly 1500 year period from 98 to 1590 of the Roman Empire. Therefore Gibbon discusses the history of early Christianity the Roman State Church as well as the history of Europe. The popularity of this work rests on Gibbon's objectivity and heavy use of primary sources. In the eighteenth century the use of primary sources for historical was very rare which was why his work was extremely popular. His methodology also became a model for later historians. Edward Gibbon wrote many historical works but is best known for this title. This is due to its quality the use of primary sources as well as the open criticism of organised religions. The work earned him a reputation as the first modern historian of Ancient Rome. A nice set of scarce early editions of these works. Collated complete. In full calf bindings. Externally rubbed in places. Volumes II IV and V are rebacked with the original spine laid down and original boards preserved. Rubbing to the spine boards and joints. Spotting to the boards of volume II. Several score marks and patched of rubbing to the boards. Small damp stained patch to the front board of volume I. Split to the tail of rear joint to volume I resulting in the joint starting but firm. Both hinges to volume I are starting but firm. Rear hinge to volume III is tender and may fail with further handling. Small crack to the tail of front joint to volume III. Front hinge to volume IV has been reinforced. Both hinges to volume V have been reinforced. Front joint to volume VI is starting but firm with the hinge tender after the front endpaper. Rear board is detached but present to volume VI. Tail of backstrip to volume I is lifting at the front hinge due to a tear. Backstrip to volume VI is lifting at the rear Loss to the head and tail of spine to volume I. Loss to the tail of spine to volume III as well as to the volume number. Loss to the head and tail of spine to volume VI. Minor bumping to the extremities. Internally firmly bound. Pages generally bright and clean volume I. Scattered spotting to volume II. Offsetting to the B leaf of volume II from the plate 'A Map of the parts of Europe and Asia adjacent to Constantinople'. Occasional scattered spots to the pages heavier to the first and last few pages. Good W Strahan; T Cadell hardcover
17817317<p>Professionally rebound in half calf over marbled boards with debossed rule to boards; 6 raised bands gilt particulars debossed decoration and burgundy morocco label to spines. Volumes 1-3 are from 1781 and volumes 4-6 are from 1788. <strong>Vol 1</strong> Fourth edition; <strong>Vol. 2</strong> Second edition;<strong> Vol. 3</strong> Second edition; <strong>Vol. 4-6 </strong>edition not stated. No previous owners' names or other markings. Each: 9 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches. <br /><em>Pagination</em>: <br /><strong>Vol. 1</strong>; 3 end leaves modern earlier re-binding original; engraved portrait frontis by Hall after Reynolds full title page preface dated Feb 1 1776 with postscript dated March 1 1781 advertisement 5 leaves; engraved folding map "Eastern part of the Roman Empire" by Tho. Kitchin Senr dated Jan 1 1781; 1-704; 3 end leaves as above; <em>no errata<br /></em><strong>Vol 2</strong>; 3 end leaves modern earlier re-binding original; half title full title contents 6 leaves; engraved folding map "Western Part of the Roman Empire" small tear at left fold line by Tho. Kitchin Senr dated Jan 1 1781; single-fold map "Parts of Europe of Asia adjacent to Constantinople" dated and engraved same annotated to place front p. 22; 1-640; errata; 3 end leaves as above; cancelled G1 and Ll1<br /><strong>Vol 3</strong>; 3 end leaves modern earlier re-binding original; half title full title contents 6 leaves; 1-640; errata; 3 end leaves as above; <em>no map<br /></em><strong>Vol 4</strong>; 3 end leaves modern earlier re-binding original; half title full title author's preface dated May 1 1788 and post script 6 leaves and contents 4 leaves; 1-620; 3 end leaves as above<br /><strong>Vol 5</strong>; 3 end leaves modern earlier re-binding original; half title full title contents 6 leaves; 1-684; 3 end leaves as above<br /><strong>Vol 6</strong>; 3 end leaves modern earlier re-binding original; full title contents 6 leaves; 1-646; General Index 26 leaves the back of the 26th 4Uv being errata to volumes 4-6.</p> Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, in the Strand hardcover
1776550 - 749 - 745<p><strong>Publisher and Year</strong>: London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell 1776 Vol. 1 1781 Vols. 2-3 1788 Vols. 4-6</p><p><strong>Edition</strong>: First editions of all volumes except for the first volume which is a second edition June 1776 released within months of the first February 1776. The first volume went through three editions before the second volume was released. Norton 1940</p><p><strong>Condition and Description</strong>: Large quarto bound in late-19th or early 20th-century calf gilt and blind rolls to the boards six spine compartments stamped with gilt floral ornaments dark red morocco spine labels edges dyed yellow marbled endpapers. All volumes retain the half-title leaves Vol. 1 contains the frontispiece engraving and all three maps are present two in Vol. 2 and one in Vol. 3 as called for. Secure hinges and binding. Rubbing scuffs handling marks and some areas of discoloration to the boards and labels. Upper-left corner of the rear board of Vol. 1 has a patch of loss to the upper layer of the leather. Some tips bumped and exposed. Frontispiece portrait of Vol. 1 with moderate foxing to the verso; that portrait has also offset onto the title leaf as usual. Contents largely clean across volumes with occasional instances of minor or moderate foxing. Unobtrusive bookseller ticket of Henry Sotheran to the verso of each front free endpaper near the gutter. Old bookseller note in pencil to the verso of the rear free endpaper of Vol. 1 recording the edition status of the volumes and the price at the time of £65 given the price this would have been written many decades ago. A similar note in pencil appears at the end of Vol. 2. The bookbinder also records a few small notes in pencil a common practice to ensure correct binding sequences. Though easily erasable we believe the pencil notes are worth keeping as part of the set's history. Overall a handsome set with excellent shelf presence. - <em>The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</em> is widely regarded as a landmark in the development of modern historical writing because it combined a large-scale narrative with systematic evaluation of historical evidence. The work draws extensively on ancient primary sources and documents them in detailed footnotes comparing accounts and judging their reliability rather than simply repeating earlier historians. Gibbon explained the transformation and collapse of the Roman world through multiple interacting causes including political instability military pressures institutional change and the growing role of Christianity an argument that provoked intense debate and controversy. The narrative traces the Roman Empire from the height of its power through the history of Byzantium to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 helping to frame the Roman and medieval worlds as part of a continuous historical process. Because of its critical use of primary sources analytical explanations and sweeping chronological scope the book became one of the most influential historical works of the eighteenth century and a model for later historians.</p><p>Inventory ID: 550 - 749 - 745</p> W. Strahan and T. Cadell hardcover
1788160730004London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell 1788. First Edition. Very Good. Complete in six volumes. All First Editions except volume 1 which is a Second Edition. Large quarto. Full contemporary mid-brown calf with early 20th century rebacks vol. 1 fully renewed at the same time and replaced endpapers raised bands red lettering piece and black numbering piece. Tips worn and exposed boards edge-worn. Sporadic light foxing throughout. A handful of small closed tears and marginal stains. Vol. 1 has some offsetting from engraved frontispiece portrait to title page as well as heavy foxing to both; first page of preface torn and missing about half; small wax stain on pages 471-4. Vol. 2: both maps present with small marginal tears but no loss. Vol. 3: binder mistakenly placed duplicate of map "The western Part of the Roman Empire" in previous volume rather than "The eastern Part." map. An attractive set of Gibbons' magnificent history. W. Strahan and T. Cadell unknown
1782140394London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell in the Strand 1782-1788. Rare early editions of the historian's masterpiece. Quarto 6 volumes bound in full paper boards 3 folding engraved maps. The frontispiece portrait of Gibbon is after Sir Joshua Reynolds the three engraved folding maps are of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and a folding map of Constantinople this map is in its original folded issue instead of the more common method of having the plate trimmed to the margin and inserted; it is more rare in this folded state. In near fine condition. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equalled to this day; and the result was clothed in inimitable prose" PMM 222. "For 22 years Gibbon was a prodigy of steady and arduous application. His investigations extended over almost the whole range of intellectual activity for nearly 1500 years. And so thorough were his methods that the laborious investigations of German scholarship the keen criticisms of theological zeal and the steady researches of two centuries have brought to light very few important errors in the results of his labors. But it is not merely the learning of his work learned as it is that gives it character as a history. It is also that ingenious skill by which the vast erudition the boundless range the infinite variety and the gorgeous magnificence of the details are all wrought together in a symmetrical whole. It is still entitled to be esteemed as the greatest historical work ever written" Adams Manual of Historical Literature 146-7. Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand hardcover
1788176083London: printed for A. Strahan; and T. Cadell 1788-89. In superlative condition First editions of Volumes IV to VI final quarto editions of Volumes I to III: a superb set of Gibbon's magisterial history in the original boards entirely unopened and in an exceptionally fresh state of preservation without repair. The publishers issued the 1789 "new edition" of the first three volumes with first edition copies of the final three as a uniform complete set. The first three were originally published from 1776 to 1781 and reprinted a few times in the same quarto format; this "new edition" is the final in quarto. The latter three volumes published in 1788 are the first and only editions in quarto. Subsequent editions were published in the smaller and cheaper octavo format. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works which. maintain their hold upon the layman and continue to stimulate the scholar although they have been superseded in many if not most details by subsequent advances of research and changes in the climate of opinion. Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equalled to this day; and the result was clothed in an inimitable prose" PMM. 6 vols quarto. Engraved portrait frontispiece by Hall after Joshua Reynolds in vol. I; folding map in vols I & II single-sheet map in vol. III. Uncut in original boards contemporary manuscript lettering to spines. Trivial spots of wear and tiny splits at joint ends sporadic very light foxing but effectively a fine set. Norton 28 & 29; Printing and the Mind of Man 222 first edition. hardcover
