The Orlando Furioso, Translated into English Verse, from the Italian of Ludovico Ariosto, with Notes by William Stewart Rose, 1880

This is an attractive 1880 two-volume edition of The Orlando Furioso, Ludovico Ariosto’s epic Renaissance poem

SOLD

The Orlando Furioso, Translated into English Verse, from the Italian of Ludovico Ariosto, with Notes by William Stewart Rose. New Edition. Illustrated with Engravings on Steel. In Tow Volumes, complete.

Published by George Bell & Sons, London, 1880. 'New Edition'. Part of 'Bohn's Illustrated Library'.

A very good (approaching near fine) pair of full polished calf hardbacks with red and green morocco labels to spine with gilt titles. The spines with raised bands and tooled gilt decoration. Boards with some rubbing and wear. The spines are rubbed with much of the gilt decoration worn away. Soundly bound with marbled endpapers and gilt inner dentelles. Plain endpapers and a few leaves at extremities with some foxed spotting. Previous owner's name of 'Sarah Davies', dated to 1936, to half title.

Text is bright and clean throughout and the engraved plates are also well presented. Full gilt edges to text block.

Note on Binding:
While both volumes are complete and include all cantos and illustrations as issued, there has been a binder’s error during the custom leather binding process. Volume I contains Cantos XXV to the end, while Volume II contains Cantos I–XXIV. This sequencing error does not affect the completeness or readability of the set—all text and plates are present, correctly paginated, and collated complete. The misbinding likely occurred when the set was bound to order for a private owner, and this has been taken into account in the pricing.

Text in English.

Vol. I: xv including guarded frontispiece + 537pp + 5 Additional Plates (all as called for); 

Vol. II: Prelims + 528pp + 6 Plates (all as called for). 

Dimensions: 

Each volume approximately 183mm high x 121mm wide x 36mm deep.

Weight approximately 1147g (the set - unpacked).