Description

COLLECTIBLE! "An Introduction to the Knowledge of Rare and Valuable Editions of the Greek and Latin Classics, Fourth edition Greatly Enlarged & Corrected;" Dibden,Thomas Frognall (Author); Printed for Harding and Lepard, Pall-Mall East and G. B. Whittaker, Ave-Maria-Lane (1827);t; HB, No jacket; VG; NOT ex-lib, NOT remainder, NOT bk club; Both Vols: Hb-Three Quarter pebbled brown calf w/ beautiful green and gold marbled paper (heavily rubbed along all edges including spine, bottom boards showing in some places, tips heavily rubbed (boards showing, some fraying/bumping)), stamped gold lettering to two compartments w/thin decorative gold rule to bands, marble endpages (matching outside) w/very small gutter tearing to vo.1 (vol.2 has more significant, still holds nicely,) appears to have had repair work to Vol.1 title page- does not detract (will send pictures upon request,) small tear to half-title lower right, small chip to top page B. Binding tight, pages clean, (exception being previous owner’s faint stamp to both vols. third front endpage, previous seller’s pencilling to rear endpage) some aging to pages. I am personally most fond of this set. Although originally bound for a wealthy man’s library, it bears the hallmarks of an educated person or family as it was often used. For some collecting books begins and ends with the beauty of the book’s elements. For myself, one must include the use of the book. Are there liner notes, perhaps smudging, or a 300year old doodle? Of course all must be within reason and the book priced accordingly. One doesn’t value something pristine against something unsaleable. My apologies for the small musing, I don’t often break the barrier of seller/listing. It’s just that these books are quite lovely, if I do say so. This is the fourth and best edition of this quotable bibliographical classic. It is more heavily weighted than the earlier printings toward the Bible and the early Church Fathers and, because of the presence of the Pickering specimen leaf, it also qualifies as the earliest example to our knowledge of a leaf book. This was Dibdin's first work as a bibliographer, and it quickly became the standard guide in English to editions of the classics. Its favorable notice brought him a position as Lord Spencer's librarian, along with ecclesiastical preferment, and he was consequently allowed to pursue his bibliographic career without financial worries. Spencer invited him not only to catalogue, but also to add to, the library at Althorp, and Dibdin (1776-1847) turned it into the finest library in private hands in England.-Pirages We carefully package + ship all orders within three days of receiving the orders.International shipping: additional postage may be required, please feel free to contact us. Note: As we are professional booksellers, not photographers, at times there will be imperfections, shadows, discoloration etc due to the process. We will be delighted to send additional photos at your request.