Book Detail

[022588] Manzoni, Alessandro. I Promessi Sposi. Storia Milanese del Secolo XVII (3 Vols, Rossetti Family copy) . Lugano: Franc. Veladini, 1828. One of the earliest complete editions of Manzoni's classic of Italian literature (in English, The Betrothed). Original cloth boards rebacked in matching cloth with paper labels. With the signature of Frances Rossetti (née Polidori) on the ffeps of each volume, and later presentation from Christina Rossetti to William: 'W.M. Rossetti/from Christina/1887', on the ffep of the first book. 1828 was the year of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's birth, so the set was possibly a present from Frances's husband Gabriele. The frontispieces in all three volumes have been hand-coloured, most probably by the Rossetti children, who coloured many of their parents' books. There are occasional manuscript annotations in pencil in Italian in the margins, giving alternative meanings.  £7,500.00