1 p.l., 557 pp.; 1 p.l., lvi, [3] (errata), 112 pp. Two vols, cont. French red half-morocco & red glazed boards, flat spines richly gilt, fore-edges untrimmed. London [i.e. Aix-en-Provence]: “N. Aphobe” [=Fearless], 1789.

First edition, one of 50 sets printed on Holland paper, ruled throughout in red, and bound in contemporary French red half-morocco. This is the very fine William Beckford (Hamilton Palace sale, 1883, lot 1370) — Earl of Rosebery (his sale Sotheby’s, London, 28 Oct. 1975, lot 332) — Major Adrian L. McLaughlin (bookplate, his sale Sotheby’s Monaco, 7 Oct. 1980, lot 1487) set.

The Abbé Rive... More