The Works of Dante Alighieri, including The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory, & Paradise). Published in 1830 and 1841 by Leonardo Ciardetti and Giuseppe Molini in 6 volumes. The Lombardi Edition.
A VERY RARE AND EXCEPTIONALLY COMPLETE EXAMPLE OF THE RENOWNED LEONARDO CIARDETTI EDITION OF DANTE, WITH THE FAMOUS ILLUSTRATIONS DEPICTING HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE.
VERY FINELY BOUND BY RIVIERE IN FULL RED MOROCCO.
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The first set is complete in 5 volumes, to which is added and uniformly bound, another volume (Le Opere Minori di Dante), printed in 1841 and intended as a sixth volume to this set, printed by Giuseppe Molini. It is very rare to find this set complete with all six volumes, and we could trace only one other set complete with all six volumes, though there are almost certainly more in existence.
With a portrait of Dante Alighieri to the frontispiece of the first volume (Inferno), and with the famous illustrations of Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, to the verso of pp.1 in volumes 1-3.
The text of this set is accompanied by the commentary of Baldassarre Lombardi, and hence its colloquial name as the Lombardi edition. This set is based on the earlier 1822 Padua edition. Volumes four and five of this set include Dante's prose works, and a selection of other materials including Boccaccio's biography of Dante, Bruni and Tiraboschi, Giuseppe di Cesare's analysis of the Divine Comedy, Giuseppe Bandini's Defence of Dante Alighieri, and some other inclusions.
[De Batines I, pp.175-76, III pp. 60; Mambelli, n.176; Martini, pp.58; The Rediscovery of Dante, n.77; Vallone, Dante's criticism, pp.133.]
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Size: 155 x 225 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
Spines show very attractively on the shelf, with some wear and rubbing, particularly at their extremities and to their raised bands. Gilt shows well with some loss. Would benefit from the application of a leather conditioner. Joints a little tender with some rubbing but with all boards attached. Shelf and edge wear. Boards all very good, some minor rubbing and scratches but generally remain very bright and attractive without significant loss to the gilt borders. Very attractive gilt turn-ins show well, occasionally with a little loss at the corners due to some wear. All page edges gilt. Bookplate of Henry & Mary Ponsonby to front pastedown of each volume, with another of Maurice Baring to the verso, with an inscription from this person to the ffep. Bindings signed at the bottom of the ffep 'Bound by Riviere'. Some toning throughout and a little bit of foxing but generally remains fairly clean through the text blocks. With 3 illustrations plus a frontispiece through the six volumes. The volumes are uncollated but appear to be complete. The set is complete in 5 (+1) volumes.
