Percy B. Shelley, The Cenci A Tragedy in Five Acts: Rare First Edition, London 1819 (1792-1822) Percy Bysshe Shelley is considered one of the great romantic poets and considered a radical at the time Shelley enjoyed modest acclaim when alive but after his death his works achieved significant stature and inspired many great writers including Yeats, Harding and Browning. Skip several generations and since the 1960s his works have achieved even greater regard including his verse dramas, most especially The Cenci. Work was inspired by a real life Roman family and proved to scandalous to stage given its subject matter including parricide and incest.
The Cenci: A Tragedy in Five Acts Italy (Livorno) Printed for C. and J. Ollier, Vere Street, Bond Street London, 1819. Evidently limited to only 250 copies. This volume is complete but clearly rebound in red leather and guilt gold trim. Upon receipt of the book, the front board was not attached and Goldberg Auctions had it professionally repaired by Leonard's Books. There are two different book plates on verso of front cover however one might be for the bookbinder. The pages are clean the edges deckled and with no stains, tears, or notations in ink. This is a prize for any level of book collector and quite rare.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000
British Authors
