THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE EGYPTIANS, CARTHAGINIANS, ASSYRIANS, BABYLONIANS, MEDES AND PERSIANS, MACEDONIANS, AND GRECIANS.

London: Printed for J. and F. Rivington, et al., 1774. Sixth edition. Eight volumes. 12mo. Handsomely bound in contemporary full brown calf; the boards ruled in gilt; the spines with five raised bands, compartments with gilt foliate decoration, contrasting red and blue gilt morocco title and volume labels and additional green gilt morocco ownership label for Louisa Pereira to each volume. Marbled endpapers. Illustrated with a copper-engraved frontispiece to each volume and 14 engraved plates, plans and maps (some folding, 22 illustrations in total). Further subsequent ownership inscription in ink manuscript to the front free endpaper of the first volume ("Henrietta Skene / given to her by her Father / 8 Volumes Complete / November 16 1825"), and with her name in ink to the front endpaper of each volume. A very good set, the bindings square and firm with a touch of minor cracking to volumes one and eight, a little occasional chipping to the spine ends, light rubbing to the spines and joints, some scuffs to the boards (heavier to volume five), and some old water marking to the top corner of the boards of several volumes. The contents with a touch of damp-marking to the upper corners of the preliminary pages of a few volumes and the occasional mark, smudge or dot of foxing here and there are otherwise in very good order throughout. The plates and maps remain clean and sharp. An attractive set of the French historian Charles Rollin's monumental survey of the ancient civilisations of Europe and the Near East, nicely illustrated with numerous engraved plates, map and plans. An unusual and appealing set, owned by an educated young woman - Louisa Pereira (likely of Portuguese descent) - during the age of Enlightenment, with her elegant gilt morocco ownership label to the spine of each volume.