Petrarca (Francesco)

Il Petrarcha con la spositione di m. Giovanni Andrea Gesualdo, 2 parts in one, including I Trionfi, woodcut printer’s device to last verso, title within architectural border including medallion portraits of Petrarch and Laura (repeated from the edition of the Canzioniere with Bernardino Daniello's commentary, (aa1&a1)), 6 fine woodcuts vignettes preceding each of the 6 ‘trionfi’, in part 2, first title torn with loss of date, paper flaw to h8, light marginal scattered staining, a little ink marking, light age yellowing, early ownership note, Polish library stamp, contemporary vellum boards with blind tooled central device, edges and spine end rubbed, endband detaching, [Adams P820; BM STC, Italian Books 505; Adams P 820; Mortimer 377], 4to, Domenico Giglio, Venice, 1553.

*** Scarce. Reprinted from the previous editions of Gesualdo's commentary (1533, 1541, etc.) without his dedication, index to commentary and "giunta" of five sonnets. Giolito of Venice was the most influential Italian printer in the middle years of the century and he set a new fashion with his initials, borders and illustrations (see D.Bland, ‘History of Book Illustration', p.139-140).