A Distant Mirror; The Calamanitous Fourteenth Century, Barbara W. Tuchman, The Franklin Library; First Edition Society, 1978

A Distant Mirror is Barbara W. Tuchman's acclaimed narrative history of the turbulent fourteenth century, exploring an age shaped by the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War and political upheaval through the life of the French nobleman Enguerrand VII de Coucy. First published in 1978, the book draws striking parallels between the crises of medieval Europe and those of the modern world, and remains one of the most widely read and influential works of popular medieval history.

A Distant Mirror; The Calamanitous Fourteenth Century, by Barbara W. Tuchman,

Published by The Franklin Library; First Edition Society, Pennsylvania. 1978 limited first edition. Privately printed exclusively for members of the First Edition Society. Published by special arrangement with Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

A fine, copy of this beautifully produced book. Full black leather binding with elaborate gilt decoration to front and rear covers. Spine with raised bands and gilt tooling. With vermillion silk moire pattern endpapers and matching page ribbon. 

Text is clean and bright, with full shiny gilt page edges. One 15mm scuff to gilt on lower edge of text block. With introductory message from Barbara W. Tuchman with facsimile signature. Illustrated.

Text in English.

xxx + (1) + (2) Map + 735pp + Plates.

Weight approximately 1500g (unpacked).

Dimensions approximately 240mm high x 178mm x 50mm.