The Medici

An early printing, with the January, 1926 imprint, but using the original English sheets. With over 100 illustrations from numerous sources on finely produced black and white plates, and with 2 folding genealogical charts. Tall, thick 8vos, very finely bound by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath in signed contemporary three-quarter dark green morocco over green cloth, all covers with a gilt fillet lines at the borders of the morocco, the spines with six gilt framed compartments separated by raised bands gilt stopped, four compartments with gilt central fleur-de-lis and two gilt lettered, additional gilt rules at the head and tails and additional gilt lettering at the tail, endpapers marbled, t.e.g. xxix, 538; xii, 576 pp. A very fine, clean, bright and handsome set, very well preserved and unusually appealing.
This is considered the foremost biography of the Medicis, and is the first history of the whole family, rather than one dealing with only the very famous or infamous members. Leaders of the city-states of Italy, they were merchants, warriors and patrons of some of the most famous and influential artists of all time. The powerful Medici family shaped not only the history of Italy, but the history of the world. They lie at the very center of all cause to the flowering of the Renaissance.