Diploma from the University of Padua, manuscript on vellum, 1 April 1606, Venetian red morocco gilt for Lodovico Corsini

4to (230 x 165 mm). 6 unnumbered vellum leaves, written in a fine calligraphic chancery script, 20 lines to a page, dark brown ink, capitals, names and double-fillet panelling in bright gilt, first page of text with full border containing elegant foliage in purple hatching with accents in red and gold, fine illuminated Virgin and Child in opaque colours in oval cartouche at head, quartered arms of the Corsini de Petrobelli at foot of page; first quarter a black eagle on gold, second quarter gilt crown on red, third quarter with a plain red and silver and a plain black field underneath, fourth quarter on silver a three crested hill bearing the letter "P", initial page containing invocation "In Christi Nomine Amen" in large gilt Capitalis Quadrata, followed by "V" gilt initial surrounded by red, purple and gold floral background, contemporary manuscript attestations of officials and notary at end, final verso blank with the notary's rubricated autograph "Jacobus Malclavellus Not[ariu]s Patav[inu]s scrib[eba]t" (Giacomo Malclavelli). (Slight yellowing, occasional very light marginal soiling, small wormholes to blank lower margin of first leaf and lower and upper margins of final two leaves, final leaf trimmed along outer margin without loss to text.)

binding: Contemporary Venetian red morocco (235 x 180 mm), richly gilt, frame of repeated vase, at corners vase and flower surrounded by solid and azured leaves and stems enclosed by double fillets forming partial circles, at 4 sides azured floral leaves and solid bird enclosed in similar partial circles, central oval formed by double fillets containing the painted arms of the Corsini de Petrobelli on the upper cover and the other half of the arms depicted on the first page on the lower cover and surrounded by running dogs, lions, goats, horsemen, flowers, pierced hearts, stars and azured leaves, flat spine, stubs from 4 pairs of ties, gilt edges. (Binding slightly rubbed at extremities, wormed endpapers, ties lacking.)

provenance: Lodovico Corsini de Petrobelli of Bergamo (fl. 1606)—Arthur Lauria, Choix de livres du XVe au XVIIIe siècle (Paris 1952), item 281 & Pl. X. acquisition: Purchased in 2004 from Sokol Books, London.