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Hard cover, 8mo. pp [32] 245 [3]. Collation: *8 **8 A8-I8 K8-P8 Q4. In Tuscan Italian (original in Italian translation Florence, 1552). In 19th century rebinding of vellum over beveled edge boards, paper label to spine in red with gilt title: BARBA/TOPICA/CICERO. Edges stained red. Contains woodcut historiated initials and borders. The printer's device of Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari on the title page features a phoenix surrounded by flames, upon a globe with his initials: G.G.F. This is flanked by two satyrs and ribbons with the mottos: " Dela mia morte eterna vita i vivo" and "Semper Eadam." Dedicated to M. Francesco Torelli, Auditore to the Duke of Florence, Cosimo de Medici. *** The de la Barba brothers, Pompeio (1521-1584) and Simone, responsible for the content of the Commentaries, were well known humanist scholars. Pompeio was a Tuscan poet, philosopher and medical doctor who was called upon to serve the Medici Pope Pius IV in Rome. His brother Simone, the translator of the work, trained as a doctor of law, and was an author in his own right. More importantly, he was a member of the Florentine Academy, and therefore instrumental in the development of the vernacular Italian language. *** Printed by one of the most famous and famously-documented printer/publisher/ booksellers of sixteenth century Venice, Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari (1508?-1578.) His biographers describe an ably-educated man born to some wealth, who was just able to dodge the vagaries of war, plague and the Inquisition to bring the newly book-hungry public works of classical antiquity and humanist thought in a language they could understand. Historian Angela Nuovo credits Giolito with the development of a modern, integrated system of publisher-to-branch bookstore. He would have his own shops "at the sign of the Pheonix" in Venice, Padua, Ferrara, Bologna, Naples and Rome. *** Condition: Vellum slightly soiled. Small chips to spine label. A narrow strip is missing across the bottom of the title page, not affecting text. Title page has been rebacked to mitigate the loss. The remains of a library stamp appear on the title page, with a ghost of the same on the opposite page. The binding is secure, and the hinges are in good order. There is some minor foxing throughout as expected with age, however, overall the pages are bright, strong , and a pleasure to read. USTC: 822377. Literature: S. Bongi, Annali di Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari da Trino di Monferrato (Rome: 1890-97;) Brown, Horatio S., "A Venetian Printer-Publisher," Atlantic Monthly Vol. 69, Feb. 1892 p. 185-196.
Ref: RARE 8246
$500.00