METASTASIO (Pietro). Poesie del signor abate Pietro... Lot 18

METASTASIO (Pietro). Poesie del signor abate Pietro Metastasio. Paris: Veuve Quillau, 1755 (volumes 1 to 9); Paris: G. C. Molini, 1769 (volume 10), 1783 (volumes 11 and 12). - 12 volumes in-8, 182 x 112: frontispiece, title, cciv, 319 pp.; title, 464 pp.; title, 463 pp.; title, 463 pp.; title, 463 pp.; title, 459 pp., (1 blank f.); title, 459 pp..., (1 blank f.); title, 460 pp. (1 blank f.); title, 468 pp. (2 blank f.); title, xxxij, 460 pp.; title, 3, 364 pp. (2 blank f.), pp. 365-534; title, 492 pp. Red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, ornate smooth spine, interior gilt roulette, gilt edges (Bradel). Fine edition of Pietro Metastasio's works, dedicated to the Marquise de Pompadour. It is illustrated with a frontispiece engraved by Sornique after Charles Eisen, an attractive unsigned vignette at the head of the epistle, and 12 handsome engraved titles. A precious copy on large paper, in in-8 format, complete with the last three volumes printed by Molini in 1769 and 1783, which are often missing. The set has been beautifully and uniformly bound by one of the members of the Bradel family. The label with his name stuck in the corner on the verso of the first endpaper of the first volume, gives the address "Rue St Jean de Latran No 9. Hôtel du Collège de France". This bookbinder was mainly active in the early 19th century. Spine very slightly lightened, a few places red-stained. A few scratches, not serious. Small cut to spine of last volume. In volume 7, restoration to the upper left-hand corner of leaf A1 and to the upper right-hand corner of leaf A4, with damage to the text. A few scattered freckles.