The Novellino of Masuccio.
London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1895. 2 volume set, 11 inches tall. A superb full citron morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, simple but most elegant gilt pallets to the panels and a series of gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edges, the remaining edges untrimmed. One of a deluxe limited edition of just 210 copies printed on Japanese vellum. The spines are slightly darkened but are still bright, otherwise pristine. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey and with the bookplate of Ernest G. Mocatta, his bookplate in the second edition has been partially removed. This translation, by W.G. Waters, is the first into English. With 20 plates by E.R. Hughes. Masuccio Salernitano is most famous for these 50 short stories which, in 1557, were included in the first Index of Prohibited Books. One of these tales, the 33rd, 'Mariotto and Ganozza', is apparently the source material for 'Giulietta e Romeo', which is the basis for Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. A superb set.