BEAUTIFULLY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED SET OF HORACE’S ODES AND EPODES, WITH ETCHINGS PENCIL-SIGNED BY HOWARD PYLE AND OTHERS

HORACE. Odes and Epodes. Boston: Bibliophile Society, 1901. Seven volumes bound as nine. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter green morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt, uncut. Housed in publisher's original chemises and slipcases. $5000.

Limited illustrated edition, one (unnumbered) of 467 sets, with title page decoration by Howard Pyle and 12 double suite etchings by W.H.W. Bicknell, James Fagan and Edmund H. Garrett, signed in pencil by the respective artist on one impression, including a Bicknell etching after a Pyle painting, signed in pencil by Pyle, beautifully bound and in fine condition.

Latin text edited by Clement Lawrence Smith of Harvard University, who also provides a life of the Roman poet. Translations are provided as "versions, paraphrases and explanatory notes by eminent scholars, statesmen and poets." Each poem is additionally decorated with numerous woodcut vignettes, borders and ornamented capitals. Volume VII, Bibliography, includes 21 facsimiles of title pages of editions of Horace. Volume II, Part II and Volume IV, Part II issued without the limitation page or Pyle title page. Volume VII also without limitation page; marbled boards and endpapers differ from those of the other volumes but spines uniform, as issued. "Bibliophile Society" appears in watermark on the outer margin of each leaf.

Minor spotting to a few interior leaves of Volume IV, Part I. A lovely set in fine condition.