Beschreibung:

5 volume set of the first collected edition of John Hoole's translation of the famous epic poem by Lodovico Ariosto, set in rhyming couplets. Orlando Furioso, completed in 1532, is said to be the inspiration for Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing, among many other works. This set is bound in full leather with marbled endpapers. It comprises: Volume 1 - frontispiece engraving of Ariosto's chair and inkstand; title page; dedication with coat of arms to Harry Verelst, Esq; Advertisement; portrait of John Hoole by Anker Smith; preface; portrait of Ariosto by I Hall; Life of Ariosto; General View of Boyardo's Story, as connected with Ariosto; half title for book 1; engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi from picture by Angelica Kauffman; books 2-10 with separate half title pages. Contents in very good condition but the binding has both boards detached and slight loss to the spine at the top and at the joints. Volume II - half title; frontispiece engraving by Collyer from a picture by Thomas Stothard; title page; half titles and text for books 11-19. Contents in good condition. The back board is beginning to loosen; there is 1.5 inch section missing from the top of the spine and generally nibbling and scuffing to spine and boards. Volume III - Frontispiece portrait engraved by William Blake from a picture by Thomas Stothard; title page; half titles and text for books 20-29; engraving by Anker Smith from an Angelica Kauffman picture bound facing the start of book 29. Contents in very good condition. Binding lacking spine with wear to edges of boards. Volume IV - half title; frontispiece by Heath from a picture by Metz; title page; half titles and text for books 30-40. Contents in good condition - there is some browning to the frontispiece and the first section including the half title, frontispiece and title page is loose. The binding lacks a spine; the boards have scuffing and wear at the edges. Volume V - half title; frontispiece by William Hamilton engraved by J Caldwell; title page; List of subscribers title page; advertisement dated January 24 1784; List of Subscribers including in Bengal and Bombay; errata for volumes I and III; half titles and text for books 41-46; postscript; and index. Contents are in very good condition. Binding lacks the bottom section of the spine - which is present and could be used in repair - and there is wear and slight loss to the hinge to the front board and general scuffing. Free UK post & packing