This book is part of a two volume collection of the works of the Roman satirist Horace, translated into Italian. The binding shows the personal arms of Leopold, Grand Duke of Tuscany (r. 1765-90), later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1790-92). It can be seen that the binding was partially painted as well as tooled with gold; the ermine cloak framing the arms for example, has remnants of white paint and some evidence of shading. There is also evidence of a painted border on both boards as well as other embellishments.
The set was later acquired by Henry Benedict Stuart, Cardinal Duke of York (1725-1807) and remained in Italy until it was presented by Cardinal Giovanni Cagliero (1838-1926) to Queen Mary in 1924.