The Monumental Limited Edition of The Vatican Frescoes of Michelangelo

André Chastel; Takashi Okamura. THE VATICAN FRESCOES OF MICHELANGELO. New York: Abbeville Press, 1980. Limited edition; this is no. 184 of 400 copies in English (600 total copies). Includes (2) volumes in quarter burgundy morocco over boards decorated in red, blue, and gilt, with marbled endpapers, text block protected by additional boards connected by a ribbon, as issued, both large folios, with (179) plates in volume I and (173) plates in volume II, with some plates folding; (1) additional text volume in cream cloth with red and blue designs and gilt lettering; all contained within a lined blue drop-back clamshell box decorated with white, red, and gilt.

DOA 22 3/4 x 19 3/4 in.

From a Private Collection, Washington, D.C.

This impressive and extremely oversized work includes one volume on the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, while the second volume focuses on The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel and the Pauline Chapel.

The two folio volumes with light wear including some scuffing, scratches, and rubbing to boards, interior with rare minor mark or crease, occasional soiling and debris in gutters (seemingly from artist's materials), and light foxing in cloth hinges; additional protective boards in vol. I with some scuffs and tears at ribbons, vol. II protective boards lightly scuffed and now separated; cloth text volume near fine; clamshell case with some edge wear, dents, light grime and scratches, with corners bumped and rubbed and a few small tears, and while still sturdy, joints with cracking and repairs; one remaining protective fabric sheet. This lot does not include Images Selected from the Vatican Frescoes of Michelangelo, the separate blue cloth portfolio of loose plates. Very good or better in good to very good case.