The Decameron. Containing An Hundred pleasant Novels. Wittily discoursed, betweene Seven Honourable Ladies, and three Noble Gentlemen. London, Printed by Isaac Jaggard, 1620-25.
THE FIRST EDITION OF BOCCACCIO'S DECAMERON IN ENGLISH; A VERY IMPORTANT AND LANDMARK PUBLICATION WHICH WOULD HAVE A PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON ENGLISH LITERATURE FOLLOWING ITS PUBLICATION. PRINTED BY THE SAME PRINTER AS SHAKESPEARE'S FIRST FOLIO.
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First edition first issue of the second volume (1620) with all of the pagination misprints required as per Pforzheimer 72 (detailed below), and second issue of the first volume (1625) as typically found.
Boccaccio's renowned collection of stories, a masterpiece of Renaissance literature and a globally recognised literary treasure, is known as the Decameron. These tales unfold through the voices of a group of young residents of Florence who, seeking refuge from the devastating Plague, share their stories in rotation. Notably, Boccaccio himself had experienced the loss of family members during the Black Death epidemic that struck Florence in the mid-14th century.
The narratives within the Decameron draw inspiration from various sources, including local Italian folklore, European tales, and stories originating from the Middle East and even India. Upon its release, the book garnered significant popularity, particularly among the merchant class in northern Italy. Its influence extended far and wide, leaving a lasting impact on literature ranging from William Shakespeare to Geoffrey Chaucer to Edgar Allan Poe and beyond.
This seminal work was first translated into English in this edition. This translation is usually attributed to John Florio. It was printed at the same printing house in London which produced Shakespeare's first folio in 1623, among many other books of importance. This edition stands as a hugely important publication, and indeed, a lavishly produced edition, exquisitely illustrated throughout as this literary masterpiece deserves.
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Provenance:
From the important Signet collection in Edinburgh, Scotland, who were presumably the original purchasers in 1620-25, with their gilt cypher to the boards. The Signet society formed in 1594 and remains active to this day.
Similar to the example sold at Christie's Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts sale, 7th Dec 2022 lot 27 for $13,860. The next cheapest example of this rare book currently on the market that we could find is listed at £17,500 (GBP). Both of those previously mentioned are the same edition format (2nd, 1st) as usually found.
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Size: 19 x 27.5 cm (approx.)
Condition:
[blank + 5], [193], [title page], [11], [1-187, i.e. 186, blank]
Numerous mispaginations as called for, but textually collated as complete through both volumes. The table at the front of volume one is complete. The table at the front of volume two lacks 2 leaves, retaining 11 of 13 leaves. Lacks blank at the end of volume one. Very elaborate title page to the second volume reminiscent of the Bibles of this period, lacks title page to the first volume, though retains the preliminaries A2-A6 (i.e. the 'To the Reader' leaf, dedication leaf to Sir Phillip Herbert, and the table). With 98 woodcut illustrations collated as complete throughout, also with numerous woodcut capitals, and head and tail pieces.
Volume one misprints the pagination of pages 60, 137, and 183 for 55, 138, and 185, respectively. Volume two misprints the pagination of pages 14, 19, 54, 68, 72, 76, 88, 106, 135, 136, 174, and 186. Due to these errors, the page count of the second volume ends at 187 but there are actually 186 leaves, collated as complete. Slight loss to text of pp.159-162 and the final leaf of the second volume's table, also the occasional few letters of text on a small number of pages. II1 repaired at leaf edge without any loss or replacement to text. Several other leaves also with some repairs with Kozo paper, one leaf just catching a few letters of text.
17th century full calf with the worn gilt logo of 'The Society of Writers to the Signet' on both boards, thus this copy presumably sold at the corresponding Sotheby's sale for the Signet library. Leather with some scuffs and general wear with slight loss at the corners as typical. Retains tooled red morocco label which reads 'Boccaccio's Works'. Front joints cracked with front board detached. Bookplate to front pastedown which reads "112:d: .", presumably a shelf reference, also with some ink in a very early hand which the bookplate covers, and some later writing in purple which reads '112:f:67', presumably also a shelf reference. Some writing to front blank, near contemporary, reading 'London 1625' at the bottom and some ink transfer from the pastedown at the top. Some occasional staining throughout the text block, generally not obscuring the legibility of text. Text block mildly toned as typical. Page edges very good with top edge dulled as typical.
[ESTC S106639, S107074; Pforzheimer 72; OCLC H700001412]
