Books

First Editions. Hardbacks. 6 volumes, 4tos. 1776-1788. All half titles present. Vol. I with engraved portrait frontispiece by Hall after Joshua Reynolds, Vol. II: full-sheet folding map of the Eastern Roman Empire by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 bound before p.1, half-sheet map of Constantinople and environs by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 bound at p.22. Both in excellent condition. Vol. III: full-sheet folding map of the Western Roman Empire by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 before p.1, p.177 correctly numbered, p.179 line 18 reading "Honorious". Errata at ends of Vols 1, 2, 3 and 6 (which also has errata for volumes 4 & 5). FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE OF THIS 'MASTERPIECE OF HISTORICAL PENETRATION AND LITERARY STYLE', which remains, despite the numerous later works devoted to this voluminous subject, 'the only historical narrative prior to Macaulay which continues to be reprinted and actually read' (PMM). During the publication of the first edition Strahan predicted the popularity of the work and doubled the print run from 500 to 1000 copies, entailing resetting of sheets. Strahan's instincts proved correct, and the entire first thousand copies sold out in a fortnight. Royal provenance—each volume has the armorial bookplate of the Chapter Library at Windsor Castle with the motto 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense' and a shield with a cross. There is a stamp beneath stating 'From the Chapter Library at Windsor Castle Sold by the order of the Dean and Canons January 1948.' A later card is tipped in of T D Weldon (1896-1958) of Magdalen College, Oxford presumably the 1948 buyer of the set. He was a philosopher, fellow of the college, friend of CS Lewis. Magdalen College was also Edward Gibbon's old alma mater. He went there in 1752. Loosely inserted is an autograph scrip (credit note) signed, 11 May 1786, 'Bon pour cent livres Blondel, 100 livres, E Gibbon, ce 11 Mai 1786', written in black ink on verso of playing card (ten of diamonds, stencil-printed in red, 5.9 x 9.2 cm), tipped to modern leaf of card annotated in pencil, together with a similar playing card (nine of clubs), loose, unsigned. An excellent totally authentic Gibbon signature. Gibbon had retired to Lausanne to live with his friend Georges Deyverdun in 1783. By 1787 he had finished the manuscript of the final three volumes of the Decline. 'Blondel' was his valet de chambre. He wrote to his friend Lord Sheffield in March 1785 'I have been singularly lucky, and you will conceive a high opinion of Blondel my new Valet de Chambre.' Full brown calf lettered gilt at the spine, 5 raised bands. Contemporary leather binding with spines skillfully and attractively renewed, very likely in the last 50 years. Very good indeed. Bright clean copies with very clean text, slight rubbing at corners.

Published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788, this extensive work by Edward Gibbon provides a detailed history of the decline of the Roman Empire.