The New Life (La Vita Nuova), Dante Alighieri — Illustrated Edition

£140.00

The New Life (La Vita Nuova), Dante Alighieri — Illustrated Edition

Name: The New Life (La Vita Nuova), Dante Alighieri — Illustrated Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5291
Price: 140.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£140.00

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Publication: London, George G. Harrap & Co., 1916

Formatting: 4to, pp. 161, [7].

Condition Report: Near Fine. The original cloth binding remains remarkably bright and sharp, with the intricate gilt and coloured enamel-style decorations to the front board and spine unoxidised and gleaming, beautifully justifying this high grade. There is merely a whisper of rubbing to the very extremities and spine ends, which is a minor fault that barely detracts from its stunning presentation. Internally, the book is firmly bound with square hinges that show no signs of starting. The untrimmed, deckled page edges display only the faint age-toning typical of the paper stock, while the lavishly illuminated pages and tipped-in plates remain exceptionally clean, vibrant, and free from any notable foxing, tears, or previous ownership markings.

Catalogue Note: This beautifully produced edition features Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s celebrated English translation of Dante Alighieri’s classic medieval romance. It is brought to vivid life by the remarkable pre-Raphaelite inspired illustrations and illuminations of British artist Evelyn Paul, seamlessly interwoven with musical accompaniments by Alfred Mercer.

Evelyn Paul’s design masterfully mimics the aesthetics of a medieval illuminated manuscript, employing rich colours, calligraphic text elements, and tipped-in plates that deeply elevate the reading experience.

While copies of this edition do surface on the open market, examples in the original decorated cloth binding that retain such unrubbed brilliance in their gilt tooling and such clean interiors are increasingly uncommon, making this a highly desirable acquisition for collectors of illuminated books or Dante's works.

A cornerstone of medieval literature and courtly love, La Vita Nuova (The New Life) is Dante Alighieri's profound expression of his unrequited and enduring passion for his beloved Beatrice. Blending prose and verse, the work traces his emotional journey from their first meeting in childhood to his profound grief following her untimely death. This exquisite edition pairs Dante's immortal words, rendered into English by Pre-Raphaelite master Dante Gabriel Rossetti, with the breathtaking, manuscript-style illuminations of Evelyn Paul, creating a volume as beautiful as the poetry it contains.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Dante Alighieri (Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti)

Book Publisher: George G. Harrap & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Poetry

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 168

Book Publication Year: 1916

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Evelyn Paul

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.