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The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by GIBBON, Edward
London: John Murray, 1887. Eight octavo volumes. With portrait frontispiece in volume I, and a fold-out map inserted in each volume (five in color). 416, 426, 434, 410, 416, 428, 412, 434 pages. Bound in full tree calf, covers double-ruled in gilt, spines tooled in gilt in compartments, red and tan morocco lettering labels, gilt board edges, gilt dentelles, edges untrimmed, marbled endpapers. Front hinge of volume one tender with a split at the foot from the cover bowing a bit, a few other tender hinges though all very strong. Bindings with minimal wear, the occasional scratch or nick to spine ends. Altogether a very handsome set of Gibbon's immortal work. Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) formed the plan for this epic work during his time in Italy (in 1764) while Òmusing amidst the ruins of the Capitol.Ó Although today his is best known for this important historical work, he did have an active political career: he was elected to Parliament in 1774, and became commissioner of trade and plantations. ÒThis 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Macaulay and Mommsen, maintain their hold upon the layman and continue to stimulate the scholar although they have been superseded in many, if not most, details by subsequent advance of research and changes in the climate of opinion.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 readÓ (Printing and the Mind of Man 222).
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