Need help identifying Dante

I need help gathering more information on this book. It appears to be signed and numbered, but I can't determine by who or it's age.

 

Signature looks like W.Hamilton.

EDIT: THIS source indicates that Thomas Y. Crowell was at 13 Astor Place from 1881-1893.

 

W Hamilton was likely the owner at some point

 

The preface appears to have been written by the translator, Rev. Cary.

 

Illustrations by Doré?

Debora

 

Here's a dup copy. Asking price, not sold.

Debora

 

Read it first, it is a classic.

 

Read it first... if it's the best translation available.

Debora

 

True.

 

@2manycats

 

I also thought the same about the signature. I can't figure out why it's numbered 5/185. I find it unlikely that the owner signed their own book and then numbered it.

 

It's possible, but why would it be numbered 5/185? Could the author have signed the owner's name in it and numbered it? Or perhaps the owner reserved this copy and his name was written inside along with the book number.

 

I think former owner Mr. Hamilton (Ms.?) had a slip o' the pen while dating the book, acquired in May of 1885 - should be either 5/85 or 5/1885. Numbered limited editions of the period almost always had a limitation notice stating the quantity and special features, if any, of the edition. Based on the binding style, which I (but perhaps no one else) think of as 'Eastlake', 1880-1885 is a plausible date for the book, especially given Bluumz's detective work on Crowell's location. Crowell published a lot of poetry in decorative bindings - here's a sample at the Lucile Project, an interesting web resource for dating some books by binding style: http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/lucile/publishers/crowell/cr_large.htm
There isn't one exactly matching the Dante, but similar styles from 1882-'85 abound.