Details
SIMONETA, Joannes (d.1491). Commentarii rerum gestarum Francisci Sfortiae. Edited by Franciscus Puteolanus. Milan: Antonius Zarotus, 23 September 1486.
Chancery 2° (293 x 205 mm). Collation: a-e8 f6 g-h8 i6 k-m8 n6 o-r8 s6 t-z8 &8 A4 (a1r editor's address to Lodovico il Moro, a2r author's preface, a2v text, A4v colophon). 188 leaves. 54 lines. Type 6:78R. 6- to 8-line initial spaces opening each book. (Small wormholes in first quires affecting a few letters.) 19th-century vellum, gilt spine stamped "L.O." at foot, later endpapers.
Provenance: L.O., initials on spine.
Second edition of "the most important humanist historiographical achievement to emerge from Milan in the 15th century" (G. Ianziti, Humanistic Historiography under the Sforzas, 1988, p.138). This biography of the illustrious Francesco Sforza, a cunning military leader who declared himself duke of Milan in 1450 after the Visconti succession had ended, had significant political repercussions. Simoneta was a member of the inner circle of the Sforza entourage under Francesco, and he wrote this history not only to glorify his patron and the Sforza family, but also to assert the legitimacy of the Sforzas as dukes of Milan. Its larger political purpose was to aid in the Sforzas' attempt to gain imperial investiture, a goal established by Francesco and pursued by his son, Lodovico il Moro. To this end Lodovico was involved in first bringing Simoneta's work into print; however, it was by the marriage of his niece, Bianca Maria Sforza, to Maximilian I that he finally achieved his goal (see lot 65). Lodovico regarded the biography of his father so highly that he spared Simoneta's life, although condemning Simoneta's brother Cecco to death on trumped-up charges of treason in 1480.
The paper used to print quires p-u of this edition is unusual in that the watermark (a bull's head) is attached perpendicularly to the chainlines.
HC *14755; BMC VI, 719 (IB. 26039); CIBN S-279; IGI 9014; Pellechet Ms 10559; Goff S-533.
Chancery 2° (293 x 205 mm). Collation: a-e8 f6 g-h8 i6 k-m8 n6 o-r8 s6 t-z8 &8 A4 (a1r editor's address to Lodovico il Moro, a2r author's preface, a2v text, A4v colophon). 188 leaves. 54 lines. Type 6:78R. 6- to 8-line initial spaces opening each book. (Small wormholes in first quires affecting a few letters.) 19th-century vellum, gilt spine stamped "L.O." at foot, later endpapers.
Provenance: L.O., initials on spine.
Second edition of "the most important humanist historiographical achievement to emerge from Milan in the 15th century" (G. Ianziti, Humanistic Historiography under the Sforzas, 1988, p.138). This biography of the illustrious Francesco Sforza, a cunning military leader who declared himself duke of Milan in 1450 after the Visconti succession had ended, had significant political repercussions. Simoneta was a member of the inner circle of the Sforza entourage under Francesco, and he wrote this history not only to glorify his patron and the Sforza family, but also to assert the legitimacy of the Sforzas as dukes of Milan. Its larger political purpose was to aid in the Sforzas' attempt to gain imperial investiture, a goal established by Francesco and pursued by his son, Lodovico il Moro. To this end Lodovico was involved in first bringing Simoneta's work into print; however, it was by the marriage of his niece, Bianca Maria Sforza, to Maximilian I that he finally achieved his goal (see lot 65). Lodovico regarded the biography of his father so highly that he spared Simoneta's life, although condemning Simoneta's brother Cecco to death on trumped-up charges of treason in 1480.
The paper used to print quires p-u of this edition is unusual in that the watermark (a bull's head) is attached perpendicularly to the chainlines.
HC *14755; BMC VI, 719 (IB. 26039); CIBN S-279; IGI 9014; Pellechet Ms 10559; Goff S-533.