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First edition illustrated with 4 plates each with 4 medallion portraits on steel.
Contemporary raspberry half sheep with corners. Spine with 5 raised bands richly decorated, roulettes on the bands and headcaps. Black sheep title and volume labels. "Peacock tail" marbled paper on the boards, pastedowns and edges. Light rubbing on the boards and corners. Paper very fresh, free of foxing, however offsetting from the portraits on the title page of volume I, that of volume II having foxing caused by the tissue guard which was finally removed.