A Classical Excursion from Rome to Arpino. By Charles Kelsall. Printed for the Author by Manget and Cherbuliez in 1820 in Geneva.
A VERY RARE FIRST EDITION, PRIVATELY PRINTED, BY "THIS STRANGELY FORGOTTEN NEO-CLASSICAL GENIUS" (David Watkin. Thomas Hope 1769-1831 and the Neo-Classical Idea. 1968).
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The author, Charles Kelsall, was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge and by 1807 had embarked on a life of travel and scholarship. "In 1819 he walked from Rome to Arpino to visit the remains of Cicero's villa, where he was horrified to find no memorial to him" (Watkin). This work, while being characteristically digressive and wide-ranging, describes the journey and suggests a suitable design for a proposed monument, among lots of other things. The final part describes an Excursion from Naples to the Isle of Capri (Watkin pp.243). Kelsall had previously published a translation of Cicero's prosecution of Caius Verres, and he dedicates this book "to the lovers of the memory of Marcus Tullius Cicero".
A very rare work which has not appeared at auction in 28 years, where it fetched £437 at Christie's [29th Nov 1995 lot 95]. According to an inscription to the front free endpaper in this copy, 400 copies of this book were originally privately printed for the author. Here being an exceptional example, additionally illustrated with 5 portrait frontispieces of Cicero dating from 1810 to 1830, plus the foldout plate as published to the verso of the title page with a further 4 plates throughout the text.
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Size: 15.5 x 22.5 cm (approx.)
Condition:
Some wear to spine though remains attractive on the shelf, some loss to gilt title. Joints rubbed but with both boards securely attached and the binding is secure. Some shelf wear. Boards with some very minor scuffs but generally remain very good. Bookplate to front pastedown dated 1885 and of Guelielmi Bates. Lots of writing on two opposing front free endpaper pages discussing the rarity of the book etc. Collated as complete with 5 additional frontispiece portraits tipped in, plus an extract from British Magazine dated November 1763 'On the Banishment of Cicero' tipped in to dedication leaf verso. Foldout plate with rough edges (probably as published?) with some light foxing and mild toning. Text block with some mild toning and sporadic very minor foxing affecting a few leaves but generally remains internally excellent (and with very nice typography!). Plates to verso of title page and pp.89, 135, 191, and 227 as published.
A lovely copy of a very rare book.
