GIBBON, Edward (1737--1794)
[History of the decline and fall of the Roman empire. 1783--90]
The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire. By Edward Gibbon, Esq; volume the first (- twelfth). A new edition.
London (Place), printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell,, 1783--90.
12 vols ; 21.0 cm. (8º)
I: xiv, 456 p., frontis. port.
II: xv, [1], 496 p.
III: viii, 412 p.
IV: viii, 443, [1] p.
V: vii, [1], 432 p., [1] fold. map
VI: viii, 420 p., [1] fold. map
VII: xii, viii, 424 p.
VIII: [4], viii, 375, [1] p.
IX: xii, 502 p.
X: xii, 385, [1] p.
XI: xii, 460 p.
XII: [16], 432, [96] p.

Gibbon's monumental history of the Roman Empire from the age of the Antonines to the Fall of Constantinople was first published in six volumes quarto between 1776 and 1788: volume I in 1776 and volumes II--III in 1781 (qq.v.), and volumes IV--VI in 1788, with the first three volumes being reprinted in successive new editions over the period as a whole. This is the first London octavo edition: volumes I--VI with imprint date 1783 are a reprint of vols I--III of the quarto editions; vols VII--XII (imprint date 1790) have half-titles and are a reprint of vols IV--VI of the quarto editions. ESTC t78366 (vols I--VI); ESTC t78370 (vols VII--XII); Jane E. Norton, A bibliography of the works of Edward Gibbon (Oxford 1940), 35 & 37.

Copy Notes Recto and verso of front free-endpaper of vol. I inscribed in ink in Soane's hand with a list of the names of the Roman emperors. Some pencil indications against the index (vol. XII), apparently marking subjects of architectural interest, e.g. 'Ajax, the sepulchre of, how distinguished'; 'History of the temple of Serapis'; 'Alypius, governor of Britain, is commissioned ... to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem', etc.

Binding Late C18th sprinkled calf, gilt roll-tooled spines with foliate motif, red morocco spine-labels.

Reference Number 5563