The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Value Guide

This 1920s American edition captures the legendary memoirs of Benvenuto Cellini, a Renaissance goldsmith and contemporary of Michelangelo. Published by Walter J. Black, it represents an era of making high-quality 16th-century literature accessible to the general public in a durable hardcover format.

What Is The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Worth?

The typical price range for The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini is $20 - $25 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the cloth binding, specifically looking for sun-fading on the spine or frayed edges.
• The presence of any internal foxing or yellowing of the paper, which is common for editions from the late 1920s.
• Completeness of the volume, ensuring no pages are missing from Cellini's vivid accounts of his life in Florence and Rome.
• Market demand for Walter J. Black editions, which generally trade in the $20-$25 range for collectors of vintage library classics.

How to Identify The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini?

• Verify the publisher imprint as Walter J. Black, Inc., typically located at the base of the spine or on the title page.
• Check for the specific 1927-1930 publication window, often indicated by the binding style and typography common to early Black's Classics.
• Confirm the material is a standard cloth-bound hardcover, which was the signature format for this series.
• Look for the distinct one-volume layout containing the full translated text of Cellini's 1558-1563 manuscript.

History of The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

Written between 1558 and 1563, this autobiography is one of the most important documents of the 16th century. Cellini, a contemporary of Michelangelo, provides a vivid and often boastful account of his life as an artist and soldier in Florence and Rome. This specific edition was published by Walter J. Black, a company known for producing affordable yet high-quality classic literature for the general public during the early 20th century.