GIBBON THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 5 VOLUMES 1845? PORTER & COATES

GIBBON THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 5 VOLUMES 1845? PORTER & COATES. I recently listed and sold a contemporary edition of Edward Gibbon s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that was published in 1974. Here I am offering another, much older, version of this iconic treatise: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, with Notes by the Rev. H.H. Milman. According to the title page, this is a New Edition to which is added a complete index of the whole work, in Five Volumes. These five small hard cover volumes (5 ¼ x 7 ¾ inches, 662-690-720-729 & 649 pages) were published by Porter & Coates of Philadelphia and are undated. Researching them in the Open Library website suggests that they were published in 1845 although candidly I must say that they are in very good condition for books that old. Please see some photos with examples of the pages of the Table of Contents which will underscore the density of the presentation of this very detailed history of the Roman Empire with many footnotes and several explanatory Prefaces. Furthermore, there is only one illustration which is an engraved portrait of Gibbon that appears as the tissue-guarded Frontispiece in Volume I. If you are buying this set of books, you had better have your vision checked and make sure your prescription is adequate to the eye strain that will occur from delving into this densely packed history. And inform family and friends that you are likely to be awol for some time as you plunge into the engaging and sometimes gory history of the Roman Empire as presented by Edward Gibbon. Condition: This set of books is in very good condition and as mentioned surprisingly so if indeed they were published in 1845! All of the volumes show some minor indication of wear, mostly light bumping to the corners and spine tips. The hard covers are typically clean with a few minor and random smudges and worn spots to the finish but nothing severe. Volume V has some very light speckles of what I think is white paint splatter and all the top edges are dust-dulled and/or speckled with small spots of soiling. Inside the books are unmarked and the pages clean without any toning or foxing. Volume I has one loose sheath which is still attached and could easily be reglued. There is one miscut page in Volume IV. Amazingly all the hinges are intact although the rear hinge of Volume III has a one-inch crack. The bindings are tight and sound. This set of books is not ex-library or remainders.…