Gibbon, Edward. THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. London: Strahan, 1782-1788. Quarto, 6 vol. set, 11" x 8.25". New edition of vols 1-3, first edition of vols 4-6. With engraved portrait frontis and 3 maps (2 folding). With half-titles to all but first volume. vii, [13], 704; [12], 640; [12], 640; [4], vii, [8], 620; [12], 684; [14], 646, [52] pp., one blank leaf discarded. Handsomely bound in full period speckled calf, light rubbing and scuffing, final volume with repaired front hinge, one volume with repair to spine, all intact. Contents clean throughout with only light occasional foxing, one leaf with paper repair along upper margin, one volume with very light marginal worming to corner of first and last couple of gatherings, one half-title leaf and one text leaf with closed tears. In all, a clean and handsome set, Very Good. *Provenance: Pastedowns with the early engraved armorial bookplates of "De Burgh, Marquis of Clanricarde." ************************* "This masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style has remained one of the ageless historical works. Gibbon brought a width of vision and a critical mastery of the available sources which have not been equaled to this day; and the result was clothed in inimitable prose" (PMM 222).