The Cenci. A Tragedy, in Five Acts.
Percy B. Shelley
First edition of Shelley's verse drama, based on the tragic story of Beatrice Cenci, a Roman noblewoman executed in 1599 for the murder of her tyrannical and abusive father. Printed in an edition of 250 copies, The Cenci is the only book of Shelley's to have reached a second edition in his lifetime.
London: C. and J. Collier, 1819. Finely bound by Zaehnsdorf for A.C. McClure & Co. in olive-green polished calf, smooth spine with two dark-green morocco labels and the date in gilt at foot, decorative leaf spray in gilt running up the spine, sides ruled in gilt and with leaf sprays at corners, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers; pp. xiv, 104. Light shelfwear and rubbing to extremities and spine tips with a few scratches to covers. Bookplate removed from front pastedown, a few light smudges to pages, else internally quite clean and fine. A beautiful copy, housed in a cloth slipcase.