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Details
DANTE ALIGHIERI (1265-1321). L'Inferno. Paris: L. Hachette, 1861.
2o (423 x 308 mm). Portrait frontispiece and plates by Gustave Doré. Terra-cotta levant morocco, covers with blind-tooled border with a large elaborate panel of geometric design in gilt with a central diamond-shaper foliated design, spine gilt-lettered and -decorated, edges gilt, by Francis Bedford (some very light rubbing at extremities). Provenance: Francis Bedford (inscription on title); Walter Macfarlane, founder of the Saracen Foundry, the most important manufacturer of ornamental ironwork in Scotland (1817-1885, signature on title); Lucius Wilmerding (bookplate); purchased from Emil Offenbacher, 18 October 1955.
A PRIZE-WINNING BINDING FROM THE 1862 GREAT EXHIBITION. INSCRIBED BY FRANCIS BEDFORD on the title: "This beautiful Copy of Dore's Dante formed one of the Specimens of Bookbinding exhibited by me in the Great Exhibition of 1862 and obtained a First Class Medal and afterwards [was] purchased of me by Walter Macfarlane Esq. of Glasgow. Francis Bedford. Lond. Novr. 28th 1873." Macfarlane was a master manufacturer of ornamental ironwork and certainly could appreciate the fine borders in Bedford's design.
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A PRIZE-WINNING BINDING FROM THE 1862 GREAT EXHIBITION. INSCRIBED BY FRANCIS BEDFORD on the title: "This beautiful Copy of Dore's Dante formed one of the Specimens of Bookbinding exhibited by me in the Great Exhibition of 1862 and obtained a First Class Medal and afterwards [was] purchased of me by Walter Macfarlane Esq. of Glasgow. Francis Bedford. Lond. Novr. 28th 1873." Macfarlane was a master manufacturer of ornamental ironwork and certainly could appreciate the fine borders in Bedford's design.