Volume I only. [10], 314, [3] pp. Printed in black & red. 23.5x17.5 cm (9¼x7"), full limp vellum decoratively tooled in gilt, yap edges, ribbon ties, page edges untrimmed.
The first edition of the first volume of D'Annunzio's seven book poetic epic, the publication of which was not finally complete until 1933. D'Annunzio was an Italian poet, journalist, playwright and soldier during World War I whose political leanings verged on fascim.
Though D'Annunzio never declared himself a fascist, he has been described as the forerunner of Italian fascism as his ideas and aesthetics influenced it and the style of Benito Mussolini.
OCLC notes that "Of 7 projected books of Laudi (Maia, Elettra, Alcione, Merope, Taigete, Asterope, Celeno), books 1-3 were published in the present deluxe ed. in 2 v. and subsequently in a smaller-sized popular ed. in 3 v. (beginning 1905). Book 4 (Merope) was published only in the smaller-sized ed. as v. 4 (1912). No more was published in these editions. Asterope was ultimately published in the 1933 vol. of the Edizione nationale of author's works under title: Canti della guerra latina"