Alessandro Manzoni. I PROMESSI SPOSI. STORIA MILANESE DEL SECOLO XVII SCOPERTA E RIFATTA. Milan: Guglielmini e Redaelli, 1840. Revised (by the author) and illustrated edition. Hardcover. Gilt tooled red leather, gilt and raised bands on spine, red satin and marbled paper endpapers; binding marked "ENGEL REL. PARIS." 4to; 864pp. Text in Italian. With Storia della Colonna Infame, frontispiece, title page vignette, and numerous illustrations throughout by Francesco Gonin.

11 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.

From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.

Alessandro Manzoni's famous Italian novel, I Promessi Sposi, or The Betrothed, was first published in 1827, but this 1840 revised and illustrated edition is considered the foremost version and one of the several "first" editions of this novel. Manzoni's Storia della Colonna Infame was first published here at the end of this edition.

Francesco Gonin was an Italian painter and printmaker, best known for his illustrations for Manzoni's work as well as his frescoes for several buildings in Italy.

Very good overall with light scuffing to boards, spine darkened, minor rubbing to joints; light to moderate foxing and toning throughout, fabric coming unglued in areas, small stamp on frontispiece, small tear to marbled endpaper; bound with numerous blank leaves at the end.