The masterpieces of Italian art illustrated: a biographical history of art in Italy from the earliest period to the present time (5 folios)

Philadelphia: Gebbie & Co, 1886. Edition De Luxe; 278/500. Folio. Some rubbing to folio spines and covers, but gilt is bright, and hinges are solid. The contents are generally free of extraneous marks, but most have foxing to a greater or lesser degree. The blue wraps are split at the fold.. 5 folios, each covered in rich, navy-blue silk; gilt lettering and decoration on front covers; (faded) black satin ribbon ties at 3 sides. Each folio contains illustrated blue wraps containing the photogravures and the descriptive text page for each, with tissue guards. (truncated) Folios measure 13 x 18 inches, and the set weighs 16 pounds (7.25 kilos), so extra postage will be required. 35/100 plates present, with descriptions. This edition, in its entirety, consists of 2 volumes in 10 sections. Sections 1 and 6 should contain short biographical notes of Italian painters. Sections 2-5 and 7-10 should contain 100 loose photogravure plates. This 'set" consists of only Sections 2,4,6,8, and 10. The content includes the main title page and introduction, list of the 100 photogravures in the two volumes, lists of the approx. 200 wood engravings within the text material, an index of all the painters, and MOST of the pages of biographical notes on the painters. It's not clear which text is from which volume, and there are some duplicate page numbers but with different text and some pages missing entirely. Of the plates themselves, 35 of 100 are contained herein, along with the corresponding description for each. All plates have tissue guards. Our "set" has been arranged as follows: Section 2 - all preliminary text material; Section 4 - painter biographies; Section 6 - the 16 plates from Volume I; Sections 8/10 - the 19 plates from Volume 2, divided between the two folios. (Inventory #: 158783)