I thought that this antique copy of Dante's Inferno was particularly good quality, so I won the bid and brought it home. It doesn't have a printing date inside, but it appears to have some age. Was looking on eBay and old copies of Dante's Inferno apparently seem to sell very well. I can't seem to find any comparable to this book on Abe Books, eBay, or anywhere else for that matter. Wanted to get your thoughts on my $27.50 (+ tax) investment/addition to my hoard. Thanks, Joe
Well,Dore died in 1883 (at 51!) so it was at least before 1883. Its a lovely book.Id guess 1870s ,but thats just a guess.I read that ages ago for a college class but darned if I remember anything about it!
Awesome cover and condition! The following have the same title pages with different covers. https://www.onesourceauctions.com/a...-illustrated-with-the-designs-of-m_8F4485EBB5 https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/listing/1521488081/1887-rare-gustave-dore-dantes-inferno This may give better clue as to value. It too has an hard to find cover. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/dantes-inferno-1885-gustave-dore-1732485053 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/dantes-inferno-gustave-dore-demons-130320153
Found the cover, but different publisher ... https://www.onesourceauctions.com/a...o-by-dante-alighieri-and-henry-fra_CE6498097D Your cover looks deluxe! The following is still a different publisher, but with a more deluxe cover ... https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1885-dantes-inferno-illustrated-143372315
Not quite as luxe as the example above. The best way to date your volume is by the publisher. According to this, the firm was renamed P.F. Collier & Son in 1898 after the founder's son joined the firm so that's your latest date. http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-p-f-collier-co-building-416-424.html Debora
According to the internet, P.F. Collier started his publishing company, in part, by purchasing the printing plates of a book from another publisher and reprinting it in (what one assumes) a less expensive version. I expect that's what the OP's edition is. Debora
Collier is usually a reprinter; in this case, Cassell is the earlier publisher, of better quality, but Doré illustrated books are always in demand and often in poor shape. You got a good deal.
I believe that Dore did his designs in ink washes, but they were engraved by others and, as I recall, principally the Dalziel Brothers. Printing plates, once made, can travel around a lot, and last a long time.
