Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$4483.02 + shipping
Description: Six volumes, volume I second edition, volumes II-VI first edition. 4to. Recent panelled calf, spines with raised bands, the old twin spine labels preserved (a few with repair and renewed gilt) with gilt decoration to the other panels, the 19th century armorial bookplates of Lord Rendlesham ("Labore et Honore") retained to the front pastedowns. Portrait frontispiece in volume I plus 3 folding maps. A handsome set.
Seller: Bow Windows Bookshop (ABA, ILAB), Lewes, United Kingdom
Price: US$6200.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Six quarto volumes. Mixed set, first three volumes new editions (1782, 1787, 1787), last three volumes are first editions (1788). Handsomely rebacked and recornered. Three fold out maps (two in Volume 2, one in Volume 3). Occasional scattered foxing, one tear along corner in Volume 5 (pg. 341), else very good.
Seller: Top Edge Gilt, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.
Price: US$10800.00 + shipping
Description: Rare first edition set of Gibbonâs landmark work of historiography with only volume I being a second edition, volumes 2-6 first editions. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, half-titles, three engraved folding maps by Kitchin of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and of Constantinople and frontispiece portrait of Gibbon after Sir Joshua Reynolds to volume I. In very good condition. A very sharp set. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equalled to this day; and the result was clothed in inimitable prose" (PMM 222). "For 22 years Gibbon was a prodigy of steady and arduous application. His investigations extended over almost the whole range of intellectual activity for nearly 1500 years. And so thorough were his methods that the laborious investigations of German scholarship, the keen criticisms of theological zeal, and the steady researches of (two) centuries have brought to light very few important errors in the results of his labors. But it is not merely the learning of his work, learned as it is, that gives it character as a history. It is also that ingenious skill by which the vast erudition, the boundless range, the infinite variety, and the gorgeous magnificence of the details are all wrought together in a symmetrical whole. It is still entitled to be esteemed as the greatest historical work ever written" (Adams, Manual of Historical Literature, 146-7).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$17932.09 + shipping
Description: Six volumes, 4to (280 x 220 mm), pp. [iii]viii, [iv], 586, [2], lxxxviii, [1, errata]; [iiixii], 640, [1, errata]; [iiixi], 640, [1, errata]; [ii], viii, [viii], 620; [iiixii], 684; [iiixiii], 646, [52]; with a frontispiece-portrait and three folding maps; without the half-titles, vol. II without the Table of Contents of vol. I (as often); some occasional light spotting or browning as usual, some marginal staining in gathering Q of vol. II, but a very good copy in contemporary diced russia, modern reback in brown morocco, spines gilt and with contrasting red and blue calf lettering-pieces; slightly rubbed, corners and edges bumped and with consequent small losses.First editions of all six volumes of Gibbon's 'masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style' (PMM). The first volume here is of the second variant (of two), with the errata corrected as far as p. 183 and X4 and a4 so signed.With the completion of the Decline and Fall 'six volumes of historical narrative had lent their weight to the conviction that the threat of universal monarchy in Europe had disappeared with the fall of the Roman empire . . . . Not only was Europe now a "great republic" composed of a number of kingdoms and commonwealths, but there was no known barbarian threat; and if any should arise, America would preserve the civilization of Europe, while the simple arts of agriculture would gradually tame the new savages. From the heights of such confidence, one can perhaps understand why Gibbon should have taken the loss of the British empire in America so calmly . . . . It was far more important that the dreadful prospect of universal monarchy, for which the Roman empire had for so long been the standard-bearer, could now be exposed and discounted, enabling humanity at last to turn its back on Rome. Unfortunately, of course, it was not to be so simple. As Gibbon lived long enough to suspect, the great republic of modern Europe was not secure against a recurrence of extensive despotic empires. Just ten years after Gibbon's death, Napoleon was crowned emperor of the French, and effectively of Europe; within a hundred and fifty years Hitler had proclaimed the thousand-year Reich. Yet if these episodes challenge Gibbon's confidence in the end of empire in Europe, it should also be recalled that Europe would twice be saved from the east, if not by barbarians, then at least . . . by Slavs, and on the second occasion from the west as well, by Americans' (Robertson, Gibbon's Roman empire as a universal monarchy: the Decline and fall and the imperial idea in early modern Europe, pp. 26970).'When Gibbon in his concluding pages remarks "I have described the triumph of barbarism and religion", he may be conceding that what set out as a history of the end of the Roman empire has become a great deal more than that. The Gothic, Lombard, Frankish and Saxon barbarians replaced the western empire with systems in whose barbarism may be found the seeds of European liberty . . . . [Under] the head of religion, we face as Gibbon did the knowledge that the replacement of empire by church as the governing principle of European civilisation is a far greater matter than the secondary question of how far Christianity was a cause of the Decline and Fall. It was already a historiographic commonplace that the end of empire led to the rise of the papacy; Gibbon explored it in depth, but recognised that this theme, however great, was limited to the Latin west and that the challenge of councils, bishops and patriarchs to imperial authority . . . led to the world-altering displacement of Greek and Syrian culture by Arabic and Islamic' (Pocock, Barbarism and Religion I, pp. 23). For Gibbon's revisions to the first volume after its original publication in 1776 and the composition of the subsequent volumes (the second and third of which did not appear until 1781) in relation to his critics and the reception of his work, see Womersley, Gibbon and the 'Watchmen of the Holy City', pp. 11172.Norton 20, 23, 29; PMM 222; Rothschild 942. Language: English
Seller: Bernard Quaritch Ltd ABA ILAB, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$22500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first state of Gibbon's "masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style" (PMM). Quarto, six volumes, bound in modern half calf over marbled boards by Bayntun-Riviere with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, all edges speckled red, engraved frontispiece portrait of Gibbon by John Hall after Sir Joshua Reynolds in Vol. II, three engraved folding maps, half-titles in vols. I-III and V, all 4 errata leaves (lacking half-titles in vols. IV and VI, vol. I with half-title. Strahan predicted the popularity of Gibbon's History andÂdoubled the print run from 500 to 1000 copies during the publication process, entailing the resetting of some sheets. Vol. I is in the first state, with the cancellans leaves as described by RothschildÂandÂthe errata uncorrected. The gatherings *a, *b,Âand the author portrait are bound in the second volume. Grolier English 58; PMM 222; Rothschild 942. L4 restored at gutter with small loss to the text, light dampstaining to the frontispiece portrait, contemporary ownership inscription to the first title trimmed by the binder. In near fine condition. A very nice example. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equalled to this day; and the result was clothed in inimitable prose" (PMM 222). "For 22 years Gibbon was a prodigy of steady and arduous application. His investigations extended over almost the whole range of intellectual activity for nearly 1500 years. And so thorough were his methods that the laborious investigations of German scholarship, the keen criticisms of theological zeal, and the steady researches of (two) centuries have brought to light very few important errors in the results of his labors. But it is not merely the learning of his work, learned as it is, that gives it character as a history. It is also that ingenious skill by which the vast erudition, the boundless range, the infinite variety, and the gorgeous magnificence of the details are all wrought together in a symmetrical whole. It is still entitled to be esteemed as the greatest historical work ever written" (Adams, Manual of Historical Literature, 146-7).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$26500.00 + shipping
Description: London: Printed for A. Strahan; and T. Cadell, 1776-1788. First edition. Six volumes, quarto (10 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches; 270 x 220 mm. Engraved portrait of Gibbon by Hall after Reynolds, not usually found (bound in volume II). With three engraved folding maps bound in volume II (one of them normally found in volume III). With all the half titles and the errata leaves in Volumes I, II, III, and VI (Volume VI errata covers volumes IV, V and VI). With twelve pages of Contents for Volume I at the beginning of Volume II. Volume I has more than half of the errata uncorrected which would make it an intermediate state. According to Sterling, " Vol. I only was published in 1776. It was originally planned to print 500 copies of this first edition, but after 26 sheets were completed, it was decided to increase the number to 1000. The type of the earlier sheets had by that time been distributed, so when they were set up again, the opportunity was taken to correct the numerous errata and to print the text of the cancel leaves which, for some unknown reason, had been substituted for the original leaves. Vols. II and III were were published together in 1781." In Volume III, p. 177 is correctly numbered, and "Honorious" is left uncorrected on p. 179, line 18. G1 and Ll1 cancels in volume 2 (signed G* and *Ll), H3 and L2 cancels in volume 4 (the latter signed *L2). The engraved portrait of Gibbon was issued separately in 1780. Contemporary tree calf, all volumes attractively and uniformly rebacked. Gilt spines with gilt tool in compartments, morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt and small morocco lozenge with volume numbers. All edges yellow. Extremities slightly rubbed. Some light intermittent foxing but generally very clean. Small bookplate on front pastedown of each volume. With a repaired closed tear to the last leaf of volume II. Overall a very good set. A "masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style," Gibbon's Decline and Fall brought to the subject a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equaled to this day. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works which, like the writings of Macaulay and Mommsen, maintain their hold upon the layman and continue to stimulate the scholar although they have been superseded in many, if not most, details by subsequent advance of research and changes in the climate of opinion. Whereas other eighteenth-century writers in this field, such as Voltaire, are still quoted with respect, the Decline and Fall is the only historical narrative prior to Macaulay which continues to be reprinted and actually read" (Printing and the Mind of Man). Although superseded in many respects by two centuries of continuous research, this great work is still read, both for pleasure and for profit, and has achieved an eminence denied most historical compilations of its kind. Grolier, 100 English, 58. Norton 20, 23, and 29. Printing and the Mind of Man 222. Rothschild 942-944. Sterling 382. HBS 68352. $26,500.
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$27500.00 + shipping
Description: Rare complete first edition set, including the rare first state of volume one, of Gibbon's landmark work of historiography. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in full contemporary mottled calf, with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt turn-ins, three engraved folding maps by Kitchin of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and of Constantinople. First edition, first issue of vol. 1 with errata uncorrected, [one of 500 copies], half-titles (that in vol. 1 a tipped-in later facsimile), 3 folding engraved maps, engraved portrait frontispiece after Reynolds and vol. 1 *a4-*b2 (Contents) bound in vol. 2, vol. 1 with later engraved portrait laid down as frontispiece, with all cancels and errata as called for, engraved bookplate, later ink ownership name S. de Giles to rear pastedowns. While the first volume was on the press, Strahan decided to increase the print run from 500 to 1000 copies; the second 500 or so copies, constituting the second state, have the errata corrected through p.183 (here uncorrected). In very good condition with highly skilful repairs to spine ends and joints. A rare and very handsome complete first edition set of Gibbonâs masterpiece. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equalled to this day; and the result was clothed in inimitable prose" (PMM 222). "For 22 years Gibbon was a prodigy of steady and arduous application. His investigations extended over almost the whole range of intellectual activity for nearly 1500 years. And so thorough were his methods that the laborious investigations of German scholarship, the keen criticisms of theological zeal, and the steady researches of (two) centuries have brought to light very few important errors in the results of his labors. But it is not merely the learning of his work, learned as it is, that gives it character as a history. It is also that ingenious skill by which the vast erudition, the boundless range, the infinite variety, and the gorgeous magnificence of the details are all wrought together in a symmetrical whole. It is still entitled to be esteemed as the greatest historical work ever written" (Adams, Manual of Historical Literature, 146-7).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$28179.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Editions. Hardbacks. 6 volumes, 4tos. 1776-1788. All half titles present.Vol. I with engraved portrait frontispiece by Hall after Joshua Reynolds, Vol. II: full-sheet folding map of the Eastern Roman Empire by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 bound before p.1, half-sheet map of Constantinople and environs by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 bound at p.22. Both in excellent condition. Vol. III: full-sheet folding map of the Western Roman Empire by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 before p.1, p.177 correctly numbered, p.179 line 18 reading "Honorious". Errata at ends of Vols1,2,3 and 6 (which also has errata for volumes 4 & 5). FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE OF THIS ÔMASTERPIECE OF HISTORICAL PENETRATION AND LITERARY STYLE', which remains, despite the numerous later works devoted to this voluminous subject, 'the only historical narrative prior to Macaulay which continues to be reprinted and actually read' (PMM). During the publication of the first edition Strahan predicted the popularity of the work and doubled the print run from 500 to 1000 copies, entailing resetting of sheets. Strahan's instincts proved correct, and the entire first thousand copies sold out in a fortnight. Royal provenance --each volume has the armorial bookplate of the Chapter Library at Windsor Castle with the motto 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense' and a shield with a cross. There is a stamp beneath stating 'From the Chapter Library at Windsor Castle Sold by the order of the Dean and Canons January 1948.' A later card is tipped in of T D Weldon (1896-1958) of Magdalen College, Oxford presumably the 1948 buyer of the set. He was a philosopher, fellow of the college, friend of CS Lewis. Magdalen College was also Edward Gibbon's old alma mater. He went there in 1752. Loosely inserted is an autograph scrip (credit note) signed, 11 May 1786, 'Bon pour cent livres Blondel, 100 livres, E Gibbon, ce 11 Mai 1786', written in black ink on verso o f playing card (ten of diamonds, stencil-printed in red, 5.9 x 9.2 cm), tipped to modern leaf of card annotated in pencil, together with a similar playing card (nine of clubs), loose, unsigned. An excellent totally authentic Gibbon signature. Gibbon had retired to Lausanne to live with his friend Georges Deyverdun in 1783. By 1787 he had finished the manuscript of the final three volumes of the Decline. 'Blondel' was his valet de chambre. He wrote to his friend Lord Sheffield in March 1785 ÒI have been singularly lucky, and you will conceive a high opinion of Blondel my new Valet de ChambreÉÕ Full brown calf lettered gilt at the spine, 5 raised bands. Contemporary leather binding with spines skillfully and atttractively renewed, very likely in the last 50 years. Very good indeed. Bright clean copies with very clean text, slight rubbing at corners.
Seller: Burwood Books, Wickham Market, United Kingdom
Price: US$30000.00 + shipping
Description: Rare full first edition set, first state of volume one, of Gibbon's landmark work of historiography with three engraved folding maps by Kitchin of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and of Constantinople and frontispiece portrait of Gibbon. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. Vol. I: undated engraved portrait frontispiece by Hall after Joshua Reynolds, 12pp. contents, x4 and a4 are cancels, errata leaf; Vol. II: full-sheet folding map of the Eastern Roman Empire by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 bound before p.1, half-sheet map of Constantinople and environs by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 bound before p.22., G1 and Ll1 are cancels, errata leaf; Vol. III: full-sheet folding map of the Western Roman Empire by Thomas Kitchin dated 1 January 1781 before p.1, p.177 correctly numbered, p.179 line 18 reading "Honorious," errata leaf; Vol. IV: H3 and L2 are cancels; Vol. VI: errata for volumes IV-VI on 4Uv. First edition, first state of Vol. I with cancels x4 and a4 (so signed) and with the balance of the errata uncorrected. While the first volume was on the press, Strahan decided to increase the print run from 500 to 1000 copies; the second 500 or so copies, constituting the second state, have the errata corrected through p.183 (here uncorrected). The portrait frontispiece and 12pp. of contents, issued with volume II, are bound in to volume I. From the library of Steve and Peggy Fossett with their estate bookplate to each pastedown. James Stephen âSteveâ Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailingâs most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviationâs highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fà dà ration Aà ronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. A rare and desirable full first edition set of Gibbon's masterpiece with noted provenance. "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equalled to this day; and the result was clothed in inimitable prose" (PMM 222). "For 22 years Gibbon was a prodigy of steady and arduous application. His investigations extended over almost the whole range of intellectual activity for nearly 1500 years. And so thorough were his methods that the laborious investigations of German scholarship, the keen criticisms of theological zeal, and the steady researches of (two) centuries have brought to light very few important errors in the results of his labors. But it is not merely the learning of his work, learned as it is, that gives it character as a history. It is also that ingenious skill by which the vast erudition, the boundless range, the infinite variety, and the gorgeous magnificence of the details are all wrought together in a symmetrical whole. It is still entitled to be esteemed as the greatest historical work ever written" (Adams, Manual of Historical Literature, 146-7).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.