First published anonymously in 1765; written by Horace Walpole in the guise of Marshal and Muralto.

For a full description concerning the various cancels, see Hazen.

The second state of Bodoni's title page.

The frontispiece is engraved by Barlow, after a drawing by Reveley.

Signatures: pi4 1-4⁴ a-2h⁴ (leaves pi1 and 2h4 are blank).

Hazen, A.T. Walpole, 17 (p. 56-63)

ESTC t131070

SCDIRB and CHMRB each have one copy; both copies have the 2nd state of the t.p. and Hazen's state "b" of the frontispiece.

SCDIRB copy 39088010284024 has a fore-edge painting, showing three people standing in a rural landscape with two houses in the background.

SCDIRB copy has a second version of the frontispiece plate (state "a" in Hazen) bound in following p. xxxii.

SCDIRB copy has some pencil corrections in the margins throughout.

SCDIRB copy has laid in: three loose color-printed engraved plates showing scenes illustrative of the Castle of Otranto ("Gerolamo ed Ippolita," "Teodoro e Matilda," and "Teodoro ed Isabella"), signed: delto. da una dama, Birril [i.e. Birrell] incisit; Londra 1 Genno. 1795 Pubbl. da Gio. Sivrac." See Hazen, p. 61 for a discussion of these and similar plates.

SCDIRB copy has bookplate: Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Adopt-a-Book. Gift of John McCutcheon and Carmen Agra Deedy.

CHMRB copy 39088010284008 is imperfect: the half-title leaf is wanting.

CHMRB copy has an old ms. ink inscription on the verso of the frontispiece: Mary B. Butler from H.V.V.[?], Feb[ruar]y 16, [18]80.

CHMRB copy has perforated stamp on endpapers: Cooper Union Library; accession no.[?]: 90,1002.

CHMRB copy has later brown buckram library binding with gilt-lettered spine and blue speckled edges.