Description
DESCRITTIONE DI TUTTA ITALIA…NELLA QUALE SI CONTIENE IL SITO DI ESSA, L’ORIGINE, & LE SIGNORIE DELLA CITTA’ & DELLE CASTELLA, CO I NOMI ANTICHI ET MODERNI, I COSTUMI DE POPOLI, LE CONDICIONI DE PAESI…ET PIU’ GLI HUOMINI FAMOSI CHE L’HANNO ILLUSTRATA, I MONTI, I LAGHI, I FIUMI, LE FONTANE, I BAGNI, LE MINERE, CON TUTTE L’OPRE MARAVIGLIOSE IN LEI DALLA NATURA PRODOTTI.
Bologna, Anselmo Giaccarelli, 1550
In-folio. Two parts in one volume. Eighteenth-century calf, gilt coat of arms on covers, gilt title on spine, red edges. Leaves (32), 469, (1). Roman and italic type. Woodcut printer’s device on the title-page. Woodcut author’s portrait on fol. [π]4v, numerous woodcut animated initials. Red edges. light browning to a few leaves, else perfect condition.
Comments:
First edition, dedicated by the dominican Leandro Alberti to Henry II of France and Caterina de’ Medici. It draws from the model of Flavio Biondo’s Italia Illustrata, from which it differs in the accurate use of sources and better esposition clarity as well as for the fact it is also mostly the product of the author’s direct experiences acquired on his many travels across the peninsula. Alberti’s important historical, artistic and geographical guide of Italy became a true bestseller, read and looked up until the late 18th century by many travelers enbarking on the Grand Tour. In the 1568 edition seven maps of islands were added.
