[Vale Press] THE LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI (2 Volumes, Complete) by [Private Press] Cellini, Benvenuto | translated by John Addington Symonds; decorations by Charles Ricketts - 1900

London: Vale Press | Hacon and Ricketts, 1900. Hard Cover. Good+ binding. Imperial octavo. clxxxvii, [1 (blank)]; clxxxviii, [2 (colophon)] pp. Limited edition, one of 300 copies on paper. Printed in black in the Vale font with two foliated borders around the opening page of each book. As issued, in holland cloth-backed boards with printed paper title labels on the spines and front boards; Volume II and much of Volume I are unopened. Bindings are soiled and the cloth at the spine is fraying at the ends, more so at the head and tail of Volume I; corners are worn; spine labels are a bit chipped, but largely complete; bindings remain solid; scattered foxing along the bottom third of some leaves; bookplate of Oregon businessman and State Senator, Henry Ladd Corbett on both pastedowns. By and large, solid, clean copies of a beautifully printed edition. Ricketts was especially excited about being able to print the Symonds's translation of this work; he felt like Cellini's life should be "read every two years." At the time of its printing it was the largest book issued from the Vale Press. This is a wonderful edition. Watry B30.