69 résultats
1796T00681London: A. Strahan T. Cadwell Jun. and W. Davies 1796. First Edition . Leather. VG. 9 x 11. Contemporary full leather with gilt titles and designs on the spines. Binding is in POOR condition. Some mending has been attempted but both volumes require rebinding. The front board on volume 2 is detached. Previous owner's small bookplate on the feps. Interiors are VG; pages clear and bright with occasional light foxing especially the few first and last pages. Volume 1: xxv 703 pages. Errata sheet facing page 1. Volume 2: viii 726 pages. Errata sheet at the back. Silhouette of Gibbon in volume 1. <br/> <br/> A. Strahan, T. Cadwell Jun. and W. Davies hardcover
179624870London: A. Strahan & T. Cadell 1796. First edition 2 vols. 4to pp. xxiv 703; viii 726 2; silhouette frontis portrait of Gibbon; full contemporary tree calf rebacked old spine with red and black morocco labels laid down; bottom panel of spine on vol. 1 scraped; good and sound. U1 in Vol. I is a cancel as usual. A supplementary third volume published in 1815 is not present. Rothschild 949; Norton 131. A. Strahan & T. Cadell unknown
179623989London: A. Strahan & T. Cadell 1796. First edition 2 vols. 4to pp. xxiv 703; viii 726 2; silhouette frontis portrait of Gibbon; full contemporary tree calf neatly rebacked red and black morocco labels on spines; very good and sound. U1 in Vol. I is a cancel as usual. A supplementary third volume published in 1815 is not present. Rothschild 949; Norton 131. A. Strahan & T. Cadell unknown
179617312London: A. Strahan; T. Cadell Jun. ; W. Davies. Very Good. 1796. First Edition. Hardcover. Rebound in brown cloth. Text is in English and French. Contents are "fine". ; 4to 11" - 13" tall; 703726 pages . A. Strahan; T. Cadell Jun. ; W. Davies hardcover
179616873London:: Strahan and Cadell 1796. First edition. modern blue cloth with red leather spine labels. Ownership inscription at top of both titles; light foxing; but a very good copy in a respectable modern binding. 4to. Rothschild 948; Norton 131. U1 in Vol. I is a cancel as usual. A supplementary third volume published in 1815 is not present. Frontispiece silhouette of Gibbon bound in the second volume instead of the first. Strahan and Cadell, hardcover
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
179696123Couverture rigide. Volume 1 seul. Reliure à nerfs en mauvais état. 702 pages. Mors fendus, épidermures, coiffes usées. 23 x 29 cm.
179624870London: A. Strahan & T. Cadell 1796. First edition 2 vols. 4to pp. xxiv 703; viii 726 2; silhouette frontis portrait of Gibbon; full contemporary tree calf rebacked old spine with red and black morocco labels laid down; bottom panel of spine on vol. 1 scraped; good and sound. U1 in Vol. I is a cancel as usual. A supplementary third volume published in 1815 is not present. Rothschild 949; Norton 131. <br/><br/> A. Strahan & T. Cadell unknown books
179623989London: A. Strahan & T. Cadell 1796. First edition 2 vols. 4to pp. xxiv 703; viii 726 2; silhouette frontis portrait of Gibbon; full contemporary tree calf neatly rebacked red and black morocco labels on spines; very good and sound. U1 in Vol. I is a cancel as usual. A supplementary third volume published in 1815 is not present. Rothschild 949; Norton 131. <br/><br/> A. Strahan & T. Cadell unknown books
17967588baZ4London: Strahan Cadell Davies 1796. Book. Very good condition. Hardcover. First Edition. Quarto 4to. English literature; biography; first edition; 2 volumes; 27.8cm; modern 3/4 maroon leather binding by Corey; volume 1 frontispiece silhouette portrait of author English historian; volume 1 errata leaf facing page 1; volume 2 errata leaf after index; supplementary volume 3 published in 1815 not present; owner marks. Strahan, Cadell, Davies Hardcover books
1796202758London: Strahan 1796. hardcover. very good. Frontispiece portrait 2 vols. large 4to bound in full mottled calf 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 books
1790HF6976London: Printed for A. Strahan; and T. Cadell in the Strand 1790. HB. Volume II only of the two volume abridged edition. Full brown leather gilt ruling and title lettering on black panel on spine xi 562 pp. Old X-college library but only markings are a stamp on front paste-down and withdrawn stams on ffep and rear endpaper. Owner's name top of title page. No marks in text binding solid. Covers show edge wear and minor scuffing front hinge cracked but holding. Book condition Good. Printed for A. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand hardcover
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
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
17971249C004London: A. Strahan and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies 1797. New Edition . Hardback. Printed pages: 8vo. xxiv 456; xv 496; viii 412; viii 413; vii 432; viii 420; viii 424; viii 375; xii 502; xiii 384; xii 460; 12 432 96 Index. Good. 5.5 x 8.5 inches 14 x 22 cm. Complete twelve volume set of the 1797 octavo 'New Edition'. Full tree calf leather bindings. Decorative gilt spines with red leather title and volume labels several labels are absent. Front board of Volume I is detached. Volumes VI and XII have been rebacked and endpapers replaced old repairs. Rubbing to boards wear to ends of spines and corners. Old auctioneer's paper label to front board of Volume V. Some minor insect damage to bindings a few short worm trails to page margins. Damp staining to inner margin of first and last few pages in most volumes. Heavy staining to margins of Volume IV. A few volumes have water splashes to page edges a couple have slight insect damage to page edges. Cracking to some of the joints but apart from Volume I all books remain securely bound. Light foxing to the text. Engraved portrait frontis to Volume I with light staining. Two fold-out maps in Volume I with tears and marking. Old paper repair to reverse of the first map has caused some staining. One fold-out map in Volume II in very good condition. Previous owner's bookplate to front pastedown endpaper in all volumes John O. Harrisson Baintree. Old inked name crossed out to title page of Volume XI. Twentieth century inscription to front free endpaper in Volume I. An imperfect but robust eighteenth-century set. ESTC: N33264. Overall condition is Good. Please Note: This is a very heavy item and international postage will be more than the standard rate - a postage supplement will be requested after the order has been placed. Please contact us for an accurate postage cost for your location. Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches 14 x 22 cm. A. Strahan and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies hardcover
1789130099Luke White Dublin 1789. Leather. Good. 1789 Luke White Dublin six volume tree calf leather bound set. Front board of volume 1 detached. Retired high school library set with markings to end papers and title pages. Remnants of library labels to spines. Please email for photos. Luke White, Dublin hardcover
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
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
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
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
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
1776144594London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell 1776-1788. Rare complete first edition set including the rare first state of volume one of Gibbon's landmark work of historiography. Quarto 6 volumes bound in full contemporary mottled calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands gilt turn-ins three engraved folding maps by Kitchin of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and of Constantinople. First edition first issue of vol. 1 with errata uncorrected one of 500 copies half-titles that in vol. 1 a tipped-in later facsimile 3 folding engraved maps engraved portrait frontispiece after Reynolds and vol. 1 a4-b2 Contents bound in vol. 2 vol. 1 with later engraved portrait laid down as frontispiece with all cancels and errata as called for engraved bookplate later ink ownership name S. de Giles to rear pastedowns. While the first volume was on the press Strahan decided to increase the print run from 500 to 1000 copies; the second 500 or so copies constituting the second state have the errata corrected through p.183 here uncorrected. In very good condition with highly skilful repairs to spine ends and joints. A rare and very handsome complete first edition set of Gibbon’s masterpiece. "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 hardcover
1776145050London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell In The Strand 1776-1788. First edition first state of Gibbon's "masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style" PMM. Quarto six volumes bound in modern half calf over marbled boards by Bayntun-Riviere with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands all edges speckled red engraved frontispiece portrait of Gibbon by John Hall after Sir Joshua Reynolds in Vol. II three engraved folding maps half-titles in vols. I-III and V all 4 errata leaves lacking half-titles in vols. IV and VI vol. I with half-title. Strahan predicted the popularity of Gibbon's History and doubled the print run from 500 to 1000 copies during the publication process entailing the resetting of some sheets. Vol. I is in the first state with the cancellans leaves as described by Rothschild and the errata uncorrected. The gatherings a b and the author portrait are bound in the second volume. Grolier English 58; PMM 222; Rothschild 942. L4 restored at gutter with small loss to the text light dampstaining to the frontispiece portrait contemporary ownership inscription to the first title trimmed by the binder. In near fine condition. A very nice example. "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