The Life and Pontificate of Leo the Tenth

William Roscoe

Published by T. Cadell and W. Davies, Liverpool, 1805

About this Item

A scarce first edition four volume set of this work on Leo X. In four volumes as issued. Collated: Lacking frontispiece to volume II but otherwise complete. Including a dissertation on the character of Lucretia Borgia and decorative chapter headers. William Roscoe was an English historian and miscellaneous writer, also known as an early abolitionist and for his strong Presbyterianism. This work was in ways a sequel to his first work of history the Life of Lorenzo de' Medici in 1796. This second work was not as popular though it was frequently reprinted. Pope Leo X was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent) and was Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was a controversial figure who borrowed and spent heavily and attracted comment on his possibility homosexuality, although Roscoe dismisses the claim in this work, calling it a "Protestant Polemic". In half calf bindings. Externally worn with rubbing and bumping. Loss to backstrips of all volumes. Both joints and hinges failed to volumes I and II with boards detached but present. Front joint and hinges failed to volumes III and IV with front boards detached but present. Rear hinges tender and joints cracked to volumes III and IV. Ex libris plate to front pastedowns of each volume. Internally, generally firmly bound although strained in places and some pages detached throughout. Pages spotted throughout with heavier spotting to first and last pages of each volume. Fair.

Seller Inventory # SET20-E-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Life and Pontificate of Leo the Tenth
• Publisher: T. Cadell and W. Davies, Liverpool
• Publication Date: 1805
• Binding: Leather
• Illustrator: Various
• Edition: First edition.
• Condition: Fair
• Book Type: book
• Seller catalogs:
  • Catholic