Petrarca, Le cose volgari di messer Francesco Petrarcha, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, July 1501, contemporary black Venetian morocco

Petrarca, Francesco. Le cose volgari di messer Francesco Petrarcha. Venice: Aldo Manuzio, July 1501

Handsomely illuminated. The first vernacular text to be printed in Griffo's italic type, which was based on the cursive bookhands used by humanist scribes in Aldo's circle, including Pomponio Leto and Bartolomeo Sanvito.

8vo (160 x 95 mm). Italic type, 29 lines plus headline. collation: a-y⁸ z⁴ ($3) A⁸ B⁴ (z4 and A8 blanks): 192 leaves. First text leaf illuminated with leafy spray surrounding initial as well as a jeweled broach, all heightened with gold, illuminated initials, early marginalia. (Instances of marginal dampstaining, short closed tears or cuts to lower margin at gutter, s6 with closed marginal tear repaired, repairs to inner margin of A⁸ and B⁴, scattered staining and foxing.)

binding: Contemporary black Venetian morocco over wooden boards (165 x 100mm), frame of multiple blind fillets containing small seashells in blind, second frame of multiple blind fillets containing repeated gilt arabesques, PETRA | RCHA within frame at top, circle with gilt arabesque at center, and gilt knot tool at bottom, remnants of two clasps, spine with raised bands in four compartments each with a series of horizontal blind fillets, edges gilt and gauffered, velum endleaves with early annotations. (Restoration to binding, gilt on edges mostly worn away, a bit shaken, lower flyleaf loose.) Housed in brown pebbled morocco pull-off case.

provenance: Painted armorial shields at foot of first leaf of text, one possibly of the Pasqualigo family — Guglielmo Bruto Icilio Timnoleone, Count Libri-Carrucci (1803-1869); his sale, Sotheby's, London, 1-15 August 1859, lot 1997 — Bumstead, London, purchased in previous sale (£5) — inscription “No.1997 Libri’s sale Aug. 1859 £5” on lower endleaf. acquisition: Purchased from Librairie Clavreuil, Paris, 2018. references: UCLA 43; Renouard 28/5; Edit16 36111; USTC 847779