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“THE GREATEST HISTORICAL WORK EVER WRITTEN”: Rare complete first edition set of Edward Gibbon's Masterpiece The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; with a rare first edition, first issue of Vol. I; from the library of legendary aviator Steve Fossett
GIBBON, EDWARD.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell 1776-1788.
Rare full first edition set, first state of volume one, of Gibbon’s landmark work of historiography with three engraved folding maps by Kitchin of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and of Constantinople and frontispiece portrait of Gibbon. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. Vol. I: undated engraved portrait frontispiece by Hall after Joshua Reynolds, 12pp. contents, x4 and a4 are cancels, errata leaf; 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 before p.22., G1 and Ll1 are cancels, errata leaf; 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 leaf; Vol. IV: H3 and L2 are cancels; Vol. VI: errata for volumes IV-VI on 4Uv. First edition, first state of Vol. I with cancels x4 and a4 (so signed) and with the balance of the errata uncorrected. 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). The portrait frontispiece and 12pp. of contents, issued with volume II, are bound in to volume I. From the library of Steve and Peggy Fossett with their estate bookplate to each pastedown. James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. A rare and desirable full first edition set of Gibbon’s masterpiece with noted provenance.
Price: $30,000.00 Item Number: 129094
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Evelyn Waugh's First Published Novel Decline and Fall; Elaborately Bound in Full Crushed Green Morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe
WAUGH, EVELYN.
Decline and Fall.
London: Chapman & Hall 1962.
First revised edition of Waugh’s first published novel. Octavo, bound in full crushed green morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 129591
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The Historian's Masterpiece; The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Finely Bound Set
GIBBON, EDWARD.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand 1782-1788.
Rare early editions of the historian’s masterpiece. Quarto, 6 volumes, bound in full paper boards, 3 folding engraved maps. The frontispiece portrait of Gibbon is after Sir Joshua Reynolds, the three engraved folding maps are of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire, and a folding map of Constantinople (this map is in its original folded issue, instead of the more common method of having the plate trimmed to the margin and inserted; it is more rare in this folded state). In near fine condition.
Price: $9,200.00 Item Number: 140394
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“THE GREATEST HISTORICAL WORK EVER WRITTEN”: RARE COMPLETE SET OF EDWARD GIBBON'S MASTERPIECE THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
GIBBON, EDWARD.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in The Strand 1776-1788.
Rare first edition set of Gibbon’s landmark work of historiography with only volume I being a second edition, volumes 2-6 first editions. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, half-titles, three engraved folding maps by Kitchin of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and of Constantinople and frontispiece portrait of Gibbon after Sir Joshua Reynolds to volume I. In very good condition. A very sharp set.
Price: $10,800.00 Item Number: 140128
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“THE GREATEST HISTORICAL WORK EVER WRITTEN”: EDWARD GIBBON'S MASTERPIECE THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
GIBBON, EDWARD.
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. In Three Volumes.
London and New York: Frederick Warne and Co. n.d. [c. 1880].
Finley bound example of Gibbon’s landmark work of historiography. Octavo, three volumes bound in a full contemporary calf Marlborough College prize-binding, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, ribbons bound in. In very good condition.
Price: $450.00 Item Number: 141545
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“THE GREATEST HISTORICAL WORK EVER WRITTEN”: Rare complete first edition set of Edward Gibbon's Masterpiece The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; with a rare first edition, first issue of Vol. I
GIBBON, EDWARD.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
London: 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.
Price: $27,500.00 Item Number: 144594
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“THE GREATEST HISTORICAL WORK EVER WRITTEN”: Rare complete first edition set of Edward Gibbon's masterpiece The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
GIBBON, EDWARD .
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
London: 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.
Price: $22,500.00 Item Number: 145050
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"We improve ourselves by victories over ourself. There must be contests, and you must win": The Works of Edward Gibbon; One of 73 Numbered Sets; Finely Bound
GIBBON, EDWARD.
The Works of Edward Gibbon, Including The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
New York: Fred Defau & Company 1906.
The Complete Works of Edward Gibbon, one of numbered 73 sets, this is number 7. Octavo, 15 volumes, bound in full dark blue levant morocco, inlaid red tulips at the corners of boards and center of each spine, raised bands, gilt titles to the spine, brown morocco doublures and watered silk flyleaves, binding by MacDonald, plates in three states: photogravure colored, on India paper, and printed on velin. In fine condition. An exceptional set, most rare and desirable.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 98478