12mo. (50); (60); (xvi), (88)pp. Sammelband volume of English literary works translated into Italian by Gaetano Fedele Polidori, the father of John Polidori—author of The Vampyre (1819), and the grandfather of the Rossettis. John Polidori also served as Lord Byron's personal physician, making his father's translation of The Lament of Tasso all the more intriguing. Polidori the elder operated a private press from his home, from which he notably published first works by his grandchildren, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Sir Hugh the Heron, 1843), and Christina Rossetti (Verses, 1847). The title pages for the Tasso and Lycidas in this volume note "Presso l'autore" suggesting that Polidori self-published these titles as well. Polidori's poetic inscription on the verso of the title page for Comus is addressed to "Segnora Emilia Delmé Radcliffe" and dated the 9th of June, 1825. The poem appears to be an original composition by Polidori that serves as an elaborate dedication with overtones of The Divine Comedy: "E quindi t'io menato/Per l'infernal region penosa oscura/Ove i sospiri, i genciti, i lamenti/Suonano oguor delle dannati genti" (And so I led you/Through the dark, painful infernal region/Where the sighs, the groans, the laments/Resound each of the damned people). In addition, this copy features a likely contemporary fore-edge painting depicting a view of Venice from San Giorgio Maggiore—a view often depicted in 19th-century landscape art. Bound in contemporary straight-grained paneled morocco with scroll border tooled in blind, and gilt tooled fleurons anchoring the interior corners. Spine tooled in blind and gilt. A.e.g. Rubbing to outer hinges and corners. Overall very good or better. Housed in contemporary straight-grained morocco slipcase, which is worn. With the bookplate of Pall Mall Gazette publisher and noted medieval manuscript collector, Henry Yates Thompson, on front endpaper. Withal, an intriguing volume with many appealing facets.