Umberto Eco - Il nome della rosa - 1980

Umberto Eco – The Name of the Rose – Absolute first edition, Bompiani, 1980

Extraordinary absolute first edition of The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, published by Bompiani in Milan in September 1980.

A volume of great bibliographic interest in what would become one of the most famous and influential Italian novels of the late 20th century, capable of captivating readers around the world and of transforming its author into one of the most important intellectual figures in contemporary culture.

The original edition

The volume is that of the first Italian edition and first absolute edition of the work, printed in September 1980.

Particularly important for the collector is the presence of the original illustrated dust jacket, an essential element for proper conservation of the edition and today particularly sought after.

Inside there is also the abbey plan, as provided in the original edition, a detail that contributes to the completeness of the specimen.

The SIAE mark is also present, another element consistent with the first Italian publication.

A masterpiece of contemporary narrative

With The Name of the Rose, Eco constructs an extraordinarily complex novel in which mystery, history, medieval philosophy, semiotics, theology, and reflection on the power of knowledge coexist within an engaging plot.

The story is set in 1327, in a remote Benedictine abbey, where the Franciscan friar William of Baskerville and the young novice Adso of Melk become involved in a series of mysterious murders.

The abbey, with its famous labyrinthine library, becomes the stage for a deep reflection on the relationship between truth, knowledge, censorship, faith, and power.

Bibliographic data

* Author: Umberto Eco
* Title: The Name of the Rose
* Publisher: Bompiani
* Place of publication: Milan
* Year: 1980
* Edition: Absolute first edition
* Printing date: September 1980
* Language: Italian
* Binding: hardcover
* Dust jacket: original illustrated
* Abbey plan: present
* SIAE mark: present

Condition

The specimen presents itself in good/very good overall condition, considering its age.

* Original dust jacket present, with normal signs of wear;
* solid and well-preserved hardcover;
* clean and complete interior;
* paper with natural and slight yellowing;
* no damages detected.

Overall, a complete and pleasant specimen, suitable for preservation in a collection.

A book destined to become a classic

The first publication of The Name of the Rose in 1980 constitutes one of the most important editorial episodes in contemporary Italian literature.

The presence of the original dust jacket, the abbey plan, and the editorial elements of the first publication make this specimen particularly interesting for the collector.

It is an ideal volume for fans of Umberto Eco, Italian first editions, contemporary literature, and the history of publishing, but also for those who wish to keep in their library the first editorial testimony of a novel destined to become an international phenomenon.

An absolute first edition of 1980, complete with its original dust jacket and abbey plan: a true piece of history of 20th-century Italian literature.