The Life of Benvenuto Cellini.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1902. Hardcover. Translation by John Addington Symonds. 8vo. Burgundy cloth with gilt spine lettering and front board pictorial giltstamping. liv, 464pp. Top edge gilt. Tissue-guarded frontispiece, 8 full-page plates. Very good. Most minor binding wear only, although spine has been lightly shellacked (a common turn-of-the-century practice) and is thus glossy, with hand-lettered paper shelf label near bottom; tight and internally fine. Item #49471
In 1887 Symonds' translation of the famed memoir by the always-outrageous 16th-century Italian goldsmith and sculptor was first published, to great acclaim; by 1889 it had already entered its third edition, and this 1902 edition is the fifth. From the collection of William B. Allison (1829-1908), the powerful Iowa Republican who, as U.S. senator from that state (1873-1908), was one of the "big four" who controlled the Senate. He boldly signs the inner flyleaf, dating it "Decr 20, 1901" below; early 20th century bookplate on front flyleaf notes "This book is part of Allison Memorial Collection Gift of Mrs. Jennie A. Brayton" and until deaccessioned was part of Allison's non-circulating collection at his hometown public library across the street from his Dubuque residence. According to Leland L. Sage in his 1956 biography "William Boyd Allison: A Study in Practical Politics," Allison owned "hundreds of books on government, economics, history, banking, finance, and the tariff [as well as] volumes of American and English literature. An omnivorous reader, Allison doubtless read most of these volumes, if only for relaxation from the strain that accompanied his efforts to solve the many problems facing the Nation. Alexander Hamilton was his guidepost in finance, Robert Burns his favorite poet, and 'The Cotter's Saturday Night' his favorite poem...." Here is one such volume from this very collection.
Price: $175.00