The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire Gibbon, Edward (1737-1794) Gift Books & Fine Bindings,History & Biography,Literature

[Late Antiquity] EARLY OCTAVO EDITION. Complete in twelve volumes. Octavo (22 x 14 x 37cm). With an engraved portrait of the author to volume I, and two large folding maps. Contemporary full marbled calf, with gilt decoration and twin black title labels to spines. All edges speckled grey. Black ink ownership of George Leech to title page of volumes I and III, and corresponding armorial bookplate to each front pastedown. A tear at the usual spot at the join of each map. Minor worming to rear few leaves of volume VIII. Internally clean, but for some expected light spotting throughout. Bindings show uniform moderate wear, including some losses to title labels and re-touching / re-colouring. Repair to spine head of volume I. Some joints starting, but all remain firm. Good. Originally published sequentially in six volumes between 1776 and 1788, Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall' is universally acknowledged as a historiographical and literary giant of the English language. It has been read by historians of Rome and Byzantium ever since publication, though Gibbon's pessimistic attitude is currently unfashionable amongst scholars of Late Antiquity. Nevertheless, the breadth of his coverage and the depth of his knowledge remains unrivalled.