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The Decameron

Giovanni BaccoccioPublished by Isaac Jaggard: London, 1620

The Decameron is a collection of one hundred tales told by a group of ten young people—seven women and three men—who have fled Florence to escape the devastation of the Black Death. They take refuge in a countryside villa where they spend ten days, with each person telling one story per night. The stories, often witty and satirical, explore a wide range of topics such as love, lust, betrayal, cleverness, and the moral shortcomings of society. Boccaccio’s writing blends comedy, tragedy, and allegory to examine the hypocrisy of the church, the struggles of the common people, and the various facets of human nature.

The Decameron faced widespread censorship and condemnation due to its blasphemous content and sexual themes. The book was seen as a direct challenge to religious authority, particularly for its depiction of corrupt clergy, promiscuous monks, and lascivious nuns. Additionally, many of the stories contain explicit sexual content, exploring themes of adultery, deception, and licentious behavior, which were deemed morally inappropriate for its time. In 1559, the Catholic Church placed The Decameron on the Index of Prohibited Books, and it remained banned or heavily censored for centuries due to its perceived immorality and open critique of the church.

A rare first edition in English of Boccaccio’s enduring masterpiece, printed by William Jaggard—just three years before his landmark Shakespeare First Folio. This handsome folio set, in two volumes and finely bound in full morocco by Riviere, retains the errata leaf and features richly illustrated woodcut titles, 98 text vignettes, decorative initials, and head- and tail-pieces. Near fine, with first editions notably scarce.

Buy Now: US$160,000

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