THE LAST OF THE MEDICI ... WITH INTRODUCTION BY NORMAN DOUGLAS.
Florence: Privately Printed for Subscribers by G. Orioli, [1930]. Gilt decorated boards, gilt spine label. Portrait frontis printed by Emery Walker. Plate. Tasteful bookplate on front pastedown, otherwise a fine copy in very good dust jacket (a bit sunned at spine and edges, with an internally mended edge tear). Item #WRCLIT85436
First edition. Copy #2 of 365 numbered copies (350 for sale), printed on Binda handmade paper, and published as No. 2 in the Lungarno Series. Signed by Douglas at the conclusion of his introduction, and by Acton at the conclusion of the Translator's Preface. This copy bears Acton's presentation inscription on the front free endsheet: "Hoping that these pages will not demoralize Anthony Hobson very cordially Harold Acton." Certain passages in the text led to a temporary seizure of a portion of the edition at the request of the British Home Office, but the Italian court found in favor of the publisher and the copies were returned. Douglas observes in his introduction that this account of the foibles of Gian Gastone is "strong fare, indeed. I am not anxious to pose as a prude, but, absorbing as the book is, I should hesitate to recommend it to any boy under twelve years of age. There are indications, apart from the main evidence of the following pages, that His Highness had a screw loose...." RITCHIE A6. WOOLF B5.
Price: $685.00