531.00 USD
POMPEII.
Its History, Buildings, And Antiquities:
An account of the destruction of the city, with full description of the remains, and of the recent excavations, and also an itinerary for visitors.
Edited by Thomas H. Dyer, LL.D.,
Illustrated with nearly three hundred wood engravings, a large map, and a plan of the forum.
Second Edition
Published by Scribner, Welford, & Co 1870
Once in a while, a bookseller such as myself stumbles upon a book that truly excites them. This book is nothing short of astonishing. The content alone is enough to pique interest. Who hasn't marveled and wondered about the ancient city of Pompeii and it's tragic end? Aside from the fascinating discovery of these ruins, this book is full of many unexpected surprises. From the texture and feel of the pages, to the overwhelming number of wood engravings and illustrations, this piece of history belongs in the hands of someone who can truly appreciate it's value. There are many digital reproductions of this book, because of it's historical significance. However, the copies of this book printed in 1870 are few and far between. It goes without saying that any true collector of antique books, avid historians and archaeologists would be overjoyed to own such a book.
CONDITION:
For it's age the book is in pretty decent condition. It has a deep green hardcover with an intricate gilded design. I'm fairly certain it is not the original binding. The cover front and back boards are detached from the spine. The pages show some foxing, as to be expected with a book of this age. There is a faint inscription from the previous owner dated 1871. The pages, text, illustrations and engravings are still in good shape. The very large map at the back of the book is intact, but should be handled with care. Weighing in at 3 lbs and 579 pages long. Please see photos for more accurate representation of the condition and feel free to send me a message for more information. The 10 photos allowed do not begin to show the glory of the engravings.
WIKIPEDIA SAYS:
"The ruins of Pompeii, by Thomas Henry Dyer
Thomas Henry Dyer (1804–1888), an English historical and antiquarian writer, was born in London on 4 May 1804. He was originally intended for a business career, and for some time acted as clerk in a West India house; but finding his services no longer required after the passing of the Negro Emancipation Act, he decided to devote himself to literature.
In 1850 he published the Life of Calvin, an extremely detailed and on the whole impartial work and his influence in the religious world generally is insufficiently appreciated. Dyer's first historical work was the History of Modern Europe (1861–1864; 3rd ed. revised and continued to the end of the 19th century, by A. Hassall, 1901), a meritorious compilation and storehouse of facts, but not very readable. The History of the City of Rome (1865) down to the end of the Middle Ages was followed by the History of the Kings of Rome (1868), which, upholding against the German school the general credibility of the account of early Roman history, given in Livy and other classical authors, was violently attacked by J. R. Seeley and the Saturday Review, as showing ignorance of the comparative method. More favorable opinions of the work were expressed by others, but it is generally agreed that the author's scholarship is defective and that his views are far too conservative. Roma Regalis (1872) and A Plea for Livy (1873) were written in reply to his critics. Dyer frequently visited Greece and Italy, and his topographical works are probably his best; among these mention may be made of Pompeii, its History, Buildings and Antiquities (1867, new ed. in Bohn's Illustrated Library), and Ancient Athens, its History, Topography and Remains (1873). His last publication was On Imitative Art (1882). He died at Bath on 30 January 1888."