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CHARLES YRIARTE
FLORENCE
Its History—The Medici—The Henry T. Coates & Co., [1897]
Revised by Maria Hornor Lansdale
Full Red Morocco Leather • Elaborate Gilt Decoration
With Folding Map and Genealogical Table
A handsomely bound copy of Charles Yriarte’s illustrated study of Florence, bringing together the city’s history, the Medici, Renaissance humanism, literature, and the arts.
This copy is distinguished by its full red morocco leather binding, elaborate gilt corner ornaments, fleur-de-lis spine decoration, and richly colored marbled endpapers. The folding map and folding genealogical table are both present and in excellent Charles. Florence: Its History—The Medici—The Humanists—Letters—Arts.
New edition, revised and compared with the latest authorities by Maria Hornor Lansdale. Philadelphia: Henry T. Coates & Co., undated [1897].
Approximately 8 × 5 inches. English text. Illustrated, with a folding map of Florence and folding genealogical table. Title page printed in red and black.
The Binding
Full red morocco leather, the covers framed by double gilt rules with large floral and scrolling corner ornaments.
Five raised bands divide the spine into six compartments. Two are lettered “FLORENCE” and “YRIARTE”; the remaining compartments contain gilt fleur-de-lis ornaments enclosed by curved borders with foliate details.
The inner turn-ins are decorated with a repeating gilt roll. Striking marbled endpapers combine orange-red, green, brown, and golden-yellow tones in a waved pattern.
The finely grained leather and restrained board panels provide an elegant setting for the more elaborate spine and corner decoration.
Florentine History and Art
Yriarte’s account considers Florence through its political history and cultural achievements, with attention to the Medici, humanist learning, literature, and the visual arts.
Revised by Maria Hornor Lansdale, this edition presents the work in English with illustrations drawn from the city’s artistic and historical heritage. These include a portrait of Dante after the fresco in the Bargello, with a surviving tissue guard bearing its caption in red.
The folding map complements the account of the city, while the genealogical table provides a useful reference to its dynastic history.
An appealing volume for collectors of Florence, Renaissance culture, Italian art history, and decorative leather bindings.
Condition
An attractive binding with clear gilt decoration and generally well-preserved board surfaces.
Rubbing and darkening are visible at the joints, raised bands, spine ends, corners, and edges. Small areas of surface wear occur near the head of the spine and upper joints, with scattered light marks and some variation in the leather’s color.
The marbled endpapers retain strong color. The photographed title page and illustrated opening show mild toning and occasional small spots; the Dante portrait retains its captioned tissue guard.
The folding map and genealogical table are both present and in excellent condition, without tears or damage.
Please examine the photographs for the binding surfaces, gilt decoration, endpapers, and representative interior condition.
