1867. Dante's Divine Comedy. First Edition of Longfellow's translation, Vellum Bound Set. RARE!
Author: Dante; translated by H. W. Longfellow
Title: The Divine Comedy
Publisher: Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz
Year: 1867 (1st Longfellow Translation)
Pages: Volume 1: 420 pp. Volume 2: 411 pp. Volume 3: 447 pp.
All Volumes Complete, & Set Complete in 3 Volumes
Size: 6.25" by 4.75"
Language: English, some notes in French also
Condition: Binding is Very Good, Text is Very Good to Near Fine
This is an absolutely beautiful set! It's rarity and beauty combine to make this an outstanding collectible copy of the Divine Comedy. The Longfellow translation is widely praised, and this is the the first European edition of the Longfellow translation. In 1867, the first American edition was also published in Boston; this Leipzig publication was likely released first, thus explaining Longfellow's insistence that future publications be published simultaneously with the American edition. It was the present Leipzig printing that Longfellow held in his own library, showing his personal preference for it. There is presently only one other copy of the rare Leipzig printing for sale online, priced at $8,000. We are offering this beautiful set for much less! The text includes extensive notes and indexes, and the notes are also presented in French as well as English.
The binding is period vellum over boards with black and red morocco labels over spine in heavy gilt. The boards are plain vellum, and all page ends are red. Original multi-colored book-markers are still present and attached in each volume. The condition is very nice having been professionally cleaned and the usual vellum soiling removed. Overall, it is a very handsome presentation, very well bound, with tight and square construction. No loose or missing pages...nice marbled endpapers.
The text is remarkably clean and nice with very nice paper...only a mild, warm, even toning with a small number of page ends lightly bumped. One volume has a small 1" crack at the upper hinge but does not seem to be cracking futher -- all bindings are tight. The vellum boards are slightly bowed (as is typical for vellum over boards) but this seems to self-correct when set is placed and left and between other books.
A great copy at a great price!
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