The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Volume Two only (of the 6-volume set) (The Great Books of the Western World series)

Franklin Center, Pennsylvania: The Franklin Library. Near Fine with no dust jacket. 1981. Leather. Volume two only (of six) in a deluxe Franklin Library edition presenting this most famous work in the field of world history, in which Mr. Gibbon clearly and thoroughly details the decline of the Empire of Rome and offers theories as to why it happened. With etchings from Giovanni Battista Piranesi's "Vedute di Roma" providing views of Roman memorials and public works. This volume tells of events from the Reigns of Nero and Constantine to those of Gratian and Valentinian II. With annotations as previously published in an edition of this work by the Everyman's Library. --- Issued as an entry in the publisher's The Great Books of the Western World series, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their original publication by Encyclpaedia Britannica. One of an unspecified number in this limited edition. --- Bound in rich full brown bonded leather covers with three raised bands on spine. Spine titling, elaborate decorations to covers and spine, and textblock edges all in bright gilt. Interior leaves printed on high-quality papers. Orange silk moire endpapers, with matching sewn-in satin ribbon bookmarks. Volumes lacks a dust jacket (as issued). --- An about-Near Fine copy with tiny scratches to textblock edge gilding and four shallow indentations to cover fore-edges, otherwise lacking damages or evidence of having been read.; Octavo - 8 to 9 in. tall; (15), 6-481 pages .