History of Greece, and of the Greek People from the Earliest Times to the Roman Conquest, I-IV (Eight Volumes)

Complete in eight volumes – set includes Volume I, Sections I and II; Volume II, Sections I and II. Volume III, Sections I and II and Volume IV, Sections I and II, making eight bound volumes.  Royal Edition, a numbered edition limited to 750 copies, of which this set is No. 272.  Set includes over 2000 engravings, including chromolithograph colour plate frontispieces, with tissue guards in each section.  All sections uniformly bound in green pebble cloth with gilt lettering on the spine. Top edges gilt.   4tos.    Cloth a little rubbed on corners and spine ends in places, with some small areas of mottling on some volumes.  Ungilded text block edges a little spotted with traces of dustiness. Upper text block edge gilding on some volumes tarnishing.  Internally all volumes are neat, clean, bright and tight.   A handsome and imposing set.

An important 19th century work by the 19th century French historian and statesman, Victor Duruy, tracing the history of ancient Greek civilisation from its earliest, prehistoric origins to the time of its conquest by Rome.  Originally published in French, it was translated into English in the late 1880s and this edition features a substantial introduction by contemporary classical scholar John Pentland Mahaffy.  The Royal Edition, of which 750 copies were issued, is a self-described deluxe edition, printed on heavy, high-grade ivory-finish paper.  Complete sets now very hard to find.