Books

London, Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1782-1788. . Six volumes; 4to.; first edition of volumes 4-6, new edition of volumes 1-3, engraved frontispiece portrait by Hall after Reynolds, 3 maps (2 folding), half titles to volumes 2-6, errata leaf in volume 6, small water stain to lower blank margin of volume 1, a few spots to endpapers, otherwise exceptionally clean internally; contemporary diced russia gilt, volume 6 unnumbered (assume quirky binder's error), minor restoration to spine, natural age-wear making a very handsome set. A beautiful six-volume set of this classic work. Gibbon's (1737-1794) History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ranks as a 'masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style and has remained one of the ageless historical works which... maintain their hold upon the layman and continue to stimulate the scholar' (PMM). Spanning a period of nearly 1500 years, this monumental work of history tracks the orbit of one of the greatest…

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.