[DANTE ALIGHIERI]. The Paradiso. London: J. M. Dent and Co., MCCCCIV. [1904].
[Sold together with]:
[DANTE ALIGHIERI]. The Purgatorio. London: J. M. Dent and Co., MCCCCIV. [1904].
[Sold together with]:
[DANTE ALIGHIERI]. The Inferno. London: J. M. Dent and Co., MCCCCIV. [1904].
'The Temple Classics' edited by Israel Gollancz. Complete in three volumes: fifth edition, fourth edition, fifth edition. Leather-bound, small octavos (15.5cm x 9.5cm); pp. [6], 418, [2]; [6], 437, [5]; [6], 401, [1]. Dual Italian and English text. Bound in stunning contemporary Florentine hand-painted vellum bindings by the Giannini family, the upper covers incorporating large initial letters and decorative floral scroll designs with gilt studs in the manner of an illuminated manuscript; manuscript titles to spines in red and black; bevelled edges; top edges dyed green, rough cut fore edges; bottom page edges evenly cut; decorative floral-patterned endpapers; half-titles; frontispieces with tissue-guards; title-pages in red and black with ornamental border; illustrations throughout including maps and tables; printed side- and foot-notes in English; notes and indexes. Printed by Turnbull and Spears, Edinburgh. Condition: VERY GOOD. Bindings tight and secure with the hinges and joints intact. Covers well-preserved with some light rubbing. Interiors largely clean with some browning to fore edges. Without previous ownership markings. A stunning set.
Notes: A wonderful dual language collection of Dante's famous work, presented in these rare and highly collectable hand-painted Florentine vellum bindings. The binding decorations are the work of the Giannini family workshop in Florence; likely executed by Giulio Giannini (1853-1931), though similar work was carried out by his son Guido (1877-1956) and grandson Giulio Junior (1901-1992). Exquisite.
