The bibliographical decameron; or, ten days pleasant discourse upon illuminated manuscripts, and subjects connected with early engraving, typography, and bibliography.
London: printed for the author, by W. Bulmer & Co., Shakespeare Press, 1817. First edition, 3 volumes, imp. 8vo, 37 plates (including 2 folding), plus many other engraved vignettes and woodcut illustrations and facsimiles in the text, several printed in color, several mounted, plus one mounted red leather label printed in gold; later full tan morocco, triple gilt rules on covers, gilt-lettered direct on gilt-decorated spines, a.e.g.; a few of the plates a bit spotted, else a very nice copy. Without the oft-missing "Presentation in the Temple" plate in vol. I. This is the only edition of one of Dibdin's most famous books (there were 50 on large paper) and certainly one of the best printed. Dibdin destroyed the plates for the book at a meeting of the Roxburgh Club. "This work forms one of the monuments of typographical bibliography. As in the style of its production it is the most sumptuous, so in the nature of its contents it may be said to be one of the most interesting books relative to ancient and modern printing" (Bigmore & Wyman). "The work is written in the same dialogue manner as the Bibliomania, with the same interlocutors, and may be properly described as a continuation of it. It is perhaps the most lavish of all Dibdin's works" (Jackson). Hart 186: "A bibliographer's classic that marks the beginning of the general recognition of bibliomania as a plaything for wealthy." Bigmore & Wyman pp. 169-170; Jackson 40; Lowndes I, 640; Windle and Pippen, A28. Item #48738
Price: $1,500.00
