OneRareBook.com, by Addison's Rare Books & Bindery

We strive to offer books of extraordinary beauty and rarity, and this wonderful Pickering edition of Boccaccio’s Decamerone both meets and exceeds those criteria! Well known for its 11 splendid plates and fine laid paper, this Pickering edition is one of the most coveted of all Decamerone’s. Boccaccio’s playful (and often naughty) tales are beautifully presented here in excellent condition and attractively bound. Presented in a gorgeous full calf binding, this set is a true “stunner” on the shelf.

Internally, the condition is outstanding. The fine paper is bright, white and fresh. The flaws are found on the thicker plates-paper which is more prone to foxing. There are varying degrees of foxing to the plates, and a fine engraved former owner ex libris to the front pastedowns. Though we find no evidence that the plates were published with paper guards, the original binder likely placed guards adjacent to the plates when the book was bound, and most of those guards are no longer there. Otherwise, the text pages of this set are Fine without markings or foxing. The binding is full calf in an olive green color. The boards are period while the spines are new, having been restored in the Addison’s bindery so you know the work is archival and of the highest quality. The spines have been elaborately gilt in the style faithful to the period of printing and very much like the original spines which had since perished. The oval shaped title and volume labels, set over red morocco labels, are original to the earlier binding and were laid onto the labels. The original polished calf boards are in great shape having been lightly restored and polished so that handling is not a concern. The bindings are tight and sound , corners rubbed, light edge wear (all restored). Inside, the gutters were repaired with the nearly invisible tissue. The page ends are beautifully marbled though the top page ends are darker due to the dust exposure over nearly 200 years.

This is a beautiful set, finely restored (no expense was spared), and truly one of the most beautiful books you could have on your shelf. No library is complete without the Decamerone, and this is truly one of the most attractive editions you will ever find.