Ovid Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books, Illus. Hans Erni, 1958, SIGNED 2x, NF HC w/DJ & slipcase.

Highet, Gilbert, Verona: Oficina Bodoni for the Limited Editions Club, 1958, #1393/1500, Near Fine quarto, 539 pp. Illustrated by Hans Erni, SIGNED by Hans Erni and Giovanni Mardersteig. 

Near Fine octavo, 9 3/4" x 6 3/4", hardcover in green and beige floral patterned paper with tan buckram spine, dark green linen title label with decoration and lettering to spine. Yellowed top edge of text block. Very Good light gray paper dust jacket with orange lettering to spine, limitation number present on spine, some sunning and water marks to spine,  and light edgewear. Very Good brown paper slipcase, black bordered title label and lettering to spine, some sunning to fore-edge, some light soiling, minor tear to paper corner.

Wonderfully designed edition of the influential Latin narrative poem considered to be the magnum opus of Roman poet Ovid, with over 250 myths and spanning 15 books on the history of the world. Illustrated by multi-skilled Swiss artist, Hans Erni, with fifteen etchings as half titles to each 'book'. Introduction by Scottish American academic, writer, and literary historian, Gilbert Highet. The text, edited in 1717 by Sir Samuel Garth, is a collection of translations by Dryden, Pope, Congreve, Addison, Garth, and others. Signed by Erni and the German-born printer, typographer, and founder of Oficina Bodoni, Giovanni Mardersteig, at the colophon. The Monthly newsletter is present in Very Good condition. 

The Limited Editions Club was founded by publisher George Macy in 1929 with goal of delivering a monthly fine press edition of great works in literature, religion, history, philosophy, and poetry. The press worked with some of the best printers in the US and Europe, and sought the best artists to illustrate runs of 1500 or 2000 copies. Amatoria has acquired ~100 Limited Edition Club titles, to see more, visit the collection on our website.