Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

2 volumes bound in 4, 8vo. EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 91 PLATES, 20 IN COLOR. Contemporary red levant, covers paneled in gilt, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettering in 2, others gilt, all edges gilt, gilt-stamp signed by Bayntun; original cloth bound in (very light rubbing at spine ends, vol.1, pt.2 upper cover fore-corner bumped with slight split). Provenance: Elizabeth A. Cox (bookplates); TLS laid in from George W. Stair of Himebaugh & Browne booksellers, 17 April 1933 ("the work is really very scarce").

FIRST EDITION of Young’s authoritative history of the Medici. Young writes in his preface, "The history of the Medici is a deeply interesting story...my aim has been to write of them as a family -- their rise, their 'course upon the mountain tops,' and their decline and end." RARE: We have been unable to trace any copies of the first edition at auction in over 50 years.