The Nights of Straparola, W.G. Walters, E.R. Hughes, 1894; numbered, Limited edition

The Nights of Straparola, Now Translated into English by W.G. Walters. Illustrated by  E.R. Hughes, A.R.W.S.

The Nights of Straparola is a two volume collection of 75 stories, told over 13 nights - originally collected and authored by Giovanni Francesco of Italy, first published 1550-1553, and said to be the first European story book to contain fairy tales. The stories were hugely influential and were used as source material by by Shakespeare and Moliere, and contained fairy tales which would later be known as Beauty and the Beast and Puss in Boots.

Published by Lawrence and Bullen, London, 1894. Numbered limited edition - two hundred and ten copies printed on Japanese Vellum, of which this is number 207. Many of these books have not survived due to being broken apart for the quite wonderful engravings.

A good set of two volumes with vellum spine with printed red titles, and paper over boards. Covers bumped and scuffed and spine discolored with some wear and damages to head and tail.

Binding with a little give. Some light foxing throughout the text, but a very readable copy. Blue top edge to text block and other edges are rough cut. Bookplate of Vivian L. Henderson (presumably Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Vivian Leonard Henderson, British army officer and Conservative Party politician, 1884-1965). Endpapers are intact at joints, but last pastedown in Volume II is worn to spine lining on last pastedown.

Text and plates are printed on an off-white 'Japanese Vellum' paper making for a high quality production. There is a little give in the binding and occasional show-through to spine lining at some of the gutters.

Vol I: xxviii + 276pp + Plates.

VolII: ix + 323pp + Plates.

Text in English.

Weight approximately 3.5kg (unpacked).

Dimensions: Each volume approximately 300mm high x 225mm wide x 37mm deep.