Search Results: Folklore, Mythology from Lux Libri

Chicago: Argonaut, Inc., 1969. An "unchanged reprint" of the original 1901 publication. A study of religious beliefs in ancient Rome and the genesis of the Great Mother goddess cult during the reign of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (535-496 BC.) A scholarly study of the rise of the cult, its ultimate decline and fall. Includes discussions of paganism, the prophecies of the Sybilline Books, "taurobolium" bull sacrifice, archaeology, and literature of the period. 114 pp., index. 4 b&w photographic illustrations. 8vo clothbound hardcover. Red cloth with gilt spine lettering. No dust jacket, as issued (?) Minor spotting to top page edge, but VG overall. Sound, tight binding. Clean internally. A book that appears to have seen little, if any, use.

Milano: Adelphi Edizione, (2009.) Signed, limited edition of 500 copies; this is no. 380. Signed by Roberto Calasso on the limitation page. Also signed and dated by him on the title page with a brief inscription "for Paul / a forest of images / Roberto." A special edition of Calasso's masterwork. A brilliant retelling of the Greek myths for a modern audience. With 384 illustrations of images from antiquity, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili of 1499, and other sources. Text is in the original Italian. (Published in English as The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony.) 558 pp. Printed in Italy by Arti Grafiche Amiliare Pizzi on ivory Bodonia paper. A big, impressive folio. 12.5 x 8.5 inches. Buckram cloth with black spine lettering. Fine in Fine dust jacket with archival cover. A beautiful, unread copy of this classic work of mythography. Scarce in this signed edition.

Boston: David R. Godine, (2003.) 1st edition. Signed by the author on the half-title in gold ink. A verse novel that imagines new events after The Odyssey by Homer. Odysseus returns home and learns two startling things from Penelope: He fathered twin daughters before he left 20 years earlier, and his faithful wife is now ready to set off on her own travels and adventures. A lively narrative in un-rhymed free verse. ix, 243 pp., with brief glossary. Map endpapers, vignette text illustrations. Quarto hardcover. Near Fine in unclipped dust jacket ($35) with clear archival cover. A nicely produced book. Uncommon signed.