Opera di A. Manzoni.

Florence: Barbèra, 1923. Very Good. 9 volumes. Prestigious 19th century "Diamond" edition of the works of Alessandro Manzoni, including I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed), etc, all housed in a hand-made wooden box of Milanese craftsmanship of the 1920s, decorated with bas-relief figures, with the title carved in relief on the front panel. The box is open to the front exhibiting the gilt-titled spines of the small volumes, and the upper panel is hinged so it can be tilted up for access to the volumes. Some discoloration, and loss of the bas-relief carving on the upper surface. Reference: Parenti, Rarità bibliografiche dell'ottocento, I, p. 61, #122-128, and illustration p. 59

For the 50th anniversary of Manzoni's death, the house of Barbèra issued this collection in carved wooden housing to close out the entire "Diamante" series launched by Gasparo Barbèra in 1856. The "Diamante" editions were immensely popular Italian classics (with some oddballs too), edited by principal scholars, and printed in 7-point "diamond" type and published in vest-pocket 6 x 10 centimeter volumes. The Manzoni set offered here was intended to close out the enterprise with a flourish. Surviving examples are rare.