Dante, Dante con nuove et utili ispositioni, Lyon, 1552, contemporary French polychrome vellum binding

16mo (120 x 74 mm). Italic and roman type. collation: a-z⁸ A-S⁸: 328 leaves. 3 full-page woodcut illustrations, woodcut medallion author portrait, printer's device, and initials, ruled in red throughout. (Some marginal soiling and dampstaining.)

binding: French polychrome binding (126 x 77 mm), 1550s, vellum, 2 frames formed by triple gilt fillets around sides, enameled red and black, in central panel, architectonic frame enclosing 3 cartouches composed of interlaced forms, the upper and lower cartouches enameled red and containing gilt grotesque faces, the central cartouche, enameled green and red containing a semé of marguerites, traces of 2 pairs of ties, flat spine with interlaced strapwork enameled red and green with marguerites in interstices, edges gilt. (Old restorations to joints, upper hinge splitting, pastedowns and endleaves renewed, modern endbands, paint possibly restored.)

provenance: Cosimo Pescetti, washed inscription at foot of title-page ("Di Cosimo Pescetti") and inscription on endleaf ("Cosmo Pescetti, Roma, 1796")—collation notation on endleaf dated 7 February 1877, signed "Giunio"—Walter Petschek (fl. 1930s), sale, Christie's, New York, 9 June 1999, lot 33 ("Property of an East Coast Estate"; part lot). acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: Edit16 CNCE 1168; USTC 151046; Adams D-99; Brunet II, 503; Fairfax-Murray French 685