THE DIVINE COMEDY OF DANTE ALIGHIERI IN 3 VOLUMES GIANNINI HAND-PAINTED BINDINGS

THE DIVINE COMEDY OF DANTE ALIGHIER IN 3 VOLUMES, HAND-PAINTED BINDINGS BY THE GIANNINI FAMILY

[DANTE ALIGHIERI]. The Paradiso. London: J. M. Dent and Co., MCMVIII. [1908].

[Sold together with]:

[DANTE ALIGHIERI]. The Purgatorio. London: J. M. Dent and Co., MCCCCVI. [1906].

[Sold together with]:

[DANTE ALIGHIERI]. The Inferno. London: J. M. Dent and Co., MCCCCIV. [1904].

'The Temple Classics'; in three volumes; sixth edition - fifth edition- fifth edition. Leather-bound, small octavos (15.5cm x 9.5cm), pp. [6], 418, [2]; [6], 442, [1]; [6], 401, [1]. Dual Italian and English text. Bound in stunning contemporary hand-painted limp vellum bindings with yapp edges and original leather ties, 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; top edges dyed yellow, fore edges and bottom page edges unevenly cut; decorative patterned endpapers; half-title pages present; title-pages in red and black with ornamental border; each volume with an illustrated frontispiece; illustrations throughout; printed side- and foot-notes in English; notes and indexes to rear of each volume. Printed by Turnbull and Spears, Edinburgh. Condition: NEAR FINE. Bindings tight and secure with the hinges and joints intact. Covers and contents beautifully preserved. Without previous ownership markings. One of the original leather ties with a small neat repair. Scarce thus.

Notes: A wonderful dual language collection of Dante's famous work, presented in these rare and highly collectable hand-painted vellum bindings. The binding decorations are the work of the Giannini family workshop in Florence. It is 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.