BOCCACCIO (Jean). *Il Decamerone di M. Giovanni Boccaccio*. - Lot 78

BOCCACCIO (Jean). *Il Decamerone di M. Giovanni Boccaccio*. London (Paris), 1757, five volumes in-8 (202 x 128 mm), contemporary red morocco bindings, wide twisted gilt garland framing the covers with a vase of flowers motif in the corners, spine with ornate raised bands, interior lace, blue tabis endpapers, gilt edges. First edition of the so-called “Gravelot” Boccaccio, featuring the original Italian text. “One of the most successful illustrated books of the entire 18th century” (Cohen), superbly decorated with five frontispieces, a portrait, 110 plates, and 97 copper-engraved culs-de-lampe after Gravelot, Boucher, Cochin, and Eisen. A very fine copy from the very first printing, with the initials mentioned by Cohen on the verso of all the plates, remarkably bound in period lace-trimmed morocco. An elegant old initial mark in brown ink at the end of the table of contents in the fifth volume. CR stamp on the first endpaper. Slight water stain on the lower corner of the endpapers and the first two printed leaves of Volume V. From the libraries of Robert Bruce Aeneas Macleod of Cadboll, Invergordon Castle (bookplate dated 1877), and Baldwin, with their bookplates in all volumes. Acquired by Émile Rossignol in 1965.

Estimate:£3,408.94

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