SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe. The Cenci. A Tragedy, In Five Acts. (1819 - FIRST EDITION)

AUTHOR: SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe.

TITLE: The Cenci. A Tragedy, In Five Acts.

PUBLISHER: [Livorno], Italy: for C. And J. Ollier, Vere Street, Bond Street, London, 1819.

DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., 8-15/16" x 6-3/8", (xiv)104pp., bound in full red morocco, ribbed gilt decorated spine, covers triple ruled in gilt, gilt dentelles, top edge gilt, others entirely uncut as issued, by Zaehnsdorf with their exhibition stamp to the lower edge of the rear pastedown.

CONDITION: Spine neatly rebacked retaining the original spine, engraved bookplate of Edward Huth to front pastedown, internally clean and bright, a VERY GOOD copy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Edward Huth was born on 8 January 1847, the eldest son of the book collector Henry Huth (1815-1878).

First edition of Shelley's dramatization of this dark tale of parricide, child abuse, and incest based on actual events and arguably the most enduring Romantic verse-play. Only 250 copies were printed, according to Shelley himself. According to Granniss, "With the exception of Queen Mab, The Cenci is the only one of Shelley's works which reached a second edition during his lifetime ." On the other hand, the play was never staged until the Shelley Society produced it on the occasion of Robert Browning's birthday, on May 7, 1886.