COMMINES, Philippe de
Historia delle guerre di Lodovico XI
Venice, P. Geronimo Giglio, 1559£1,650.00
Small 8vo., ff. (xii) 248 (viii). Italic letter printer’s devices on title and at end, some woodcut initials and ornaments. Manuscript chapter index neatly added to table circa 1800 (?), bibliographical notes probably in same hand on fly. Upper margin a bit tight but clear of running title, a good clean copy in particularly attractive late C16 French purple morocco, covers with triple gilt border at central panel and edges, double gilt rules joining corners, narrow rectangular three line central panel with flower at each corner gilt on spine, edges of spine with three line gilt border, a.e.g.
Second edition of the first Italian translation of Commines’ history, first published in 1544. It is the work of Nicholas Raince, about whom we have discovered nothing, and dedicated to Giovio. It does not appear to have been subsequently reprinted and examples of both editions are scarce. The classical restraint of the severely geometric binding contrasts happily with the richness of the morocco in texture and colour.
A most attractive volume.
BM STC It. p. 192 (1st ed only). Adams C 2453 (UL copy only).In stock
