The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio

A beautifully illustrated Edition de Luxe of this masterpiece of early Italian literature, present alongside a folder featuring eight of Louis Chalon's most erotic plates illustrating the work. Present here are the scarce 1921 privately printed 'Edition de Luxe', limited to 1000 copies, of this work, complete in two volumes. Present alongside is the folder with eight additional plates from the 1906 edition of this work.This folder features eight additional plates from Louis Chalon, the illustrator, which were deemed too erotic to initially appear in the work. Collated, complete.Illustrated by the French artist Louis Chalon. Many of his illustrations were used in periodicals, including 'La Vie Parisienne', 'L'Illustration', and 'Figaro Illustre'.Volume I is illustrated with nine plates by Chalon, and volume II with six. Collated, complete.Giovanni Boccaccio's work consists of a frame narrative containing one hundred tales told by a group sheltering in a secluded villa to escape the Black Death. Boccaccio probably conceived of the Decameron after the plague epidemic of 1348, and completed it by 1353.Translated by J. M. Rigg. Undated; both the 1906 folder and the 1921 Edition de Luxe are dated from the British Library. In the publisher's original silk bindings, with plates folder rebacked in paper, retaining the original paper covered boards. Bumping to back strip heads and tails, with back strips significantly age toned. Light tide marks to board tails. Internally, firmly bound. Pages lightly age toned, but generally clean and bright. Plates loosely inserted in folder clean and bright. Very Good.…