Anselmi, Epigrammaton libri septem, Venice, 1528, contemporary Venetian brown morocco gilt

ANSELMI, GIORGIO. Georgii Anselmi Nepotis Epigrammaton libri septem. Sosthyrides. Peplum Palladis. Aeglogae quattuor. Venice: Maffeo Pasini, September 1528

An uncommon volume of poetry by Anselmi (ca 1450-1528), called Nepos to distinguish him from his uncle of the same name. His poetry was first printed in his hometown of Parma in 1526, and again in 1527; this is the third edition, containing some additional verses, printed by Maffeo Pasini, who had close links with the Parma printers of the first two editions, Francesco Ugoleto and Antonio Viotti.

The printer’s waste in the binding provides the only evidence that a copy on vellum was ever printed (it should be mentioned that the leaves show evidence of having been bound, which is not usual for printer’s waste, though this indicates that the whole text was printed on vellum, not just a few proof sheets). The setting of the text on the vellum leaves confirms that it was the 1526 Parma edition, not the Venice 1528 edition, though the similarity of the two printings reinforces the link between Pasini and the Parma printers, also evident from other works with imprints from both printshops. However, in the preface, Pasini mentions that the earlier edition was full of errors, which presumably led to the dismemberment of this vellum copy.

The presence of printer’s waste in the binding indicates a close link between the printer and the binder. Pasini usually worked with Francesco Bindoni, and it is quite plausible that they had their own bindery. All the figurative binding stamps feature on contemporary north Italian bindings.

8vo (150 x 92 mm). Italic type, 28 lines plus headline. Collation: *⁸ A-Q⁸: 136 leaves. Early manuscript note on front flyleaf, “Amor che…”. (Some loss to paper along fore-edge.)

Binding: Contemporary Venetian brown morocco gilt (156 x 101 mm), covers with several frames of blind and gilt fillets with repeated swags and cherub’s head stamps, central stamp of a vase with flames, on the upper cover a Cupid stamp above and a dolphin stamp below the vase, on the lower cover a stamp of Fortuna below the vase (originally applied upside down), spine with gilt fillets along bands, edges gilt and gauffered to a knotwork pattern, stubs from four pairs of ties, printer’s waste on vellum from the 1526 edition of Anselmi’s text (a bifolium at front and a single leaf at rear). In modern dark red buckram drop-backed box. (Spine and board edges repaired.)

Provenance: Old French bookseller’s catalogue entry pasted to inside lower cover, item 3401 — Paul Harth (1872-1963), sale, part II, Laurin Guilloux Buffetaud Tailleur & Jacqueline Vidal-Mégret, Paris, 20 November 1985, lot 3 — Martin Breslauer Inc., catalogue 110 (New York, 1992), item 23. Acquisition: Purchased in 1992 from Martin Breslauer Inc., New York. References: Edit16 1958