Details
CASA, Giovanni della (1503-56). Rime, et prose. Venice: Nicolò Bevilacqua for Erasmo Gimini, October 1558.
4o (221 x 163 mm). Collation: a4 b2 A-X4 Y2. 92 leaves. Roman type. Woodcut historiated initials (some light marginal staining, light marginal worming at beginning and end). Contemporary Italian dark brown morocco, gold tooled with large central arabesque, made up with smaller tools, within a frame of several quadruple fillets, three fillets gilt, gilt edges (professional repairs to edges and corners).
FIRST EDITION. This collection contains Galateo, one of the most famous courtesy books. Galateo was named after Galeazzo Florimonte, Bishop of Sessa, who first proposed the idea to Della Casa. It is written in the form of advice given by an unlettered old gentleman to a young student, and covers social behaviour ranging from table manners, to personal demeanor, to the behaviour of different social classes. Galateo was printed almost immediately in a separate edition, and its influence was such that in Italy the title became synonymous with books on etiquette.
The present edition is notable for having been printed by Bevilacqua with the types and fine woodcut historiated initials which Paulo Manuzio used to print for the Accademia Veneziana. Renouard thus includes it in his Annales de l'Imprimerie des Alde (p.175, no.15), stating that it is "bien exécuté et peu commun." Adams C-806; Brunet I:1610; Gamba 278.
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FIRST EDITION. This collection contains Galateo, one of the most famous courtesy books. Galateo was named after Galeazzo Florimonte, Bishop of Sessa, who first proposed the idea to Della Casa. It is written in the form of advice given by an unlettered old gentleman to a young student, and covers social behaviour ranging from table manners, to personal demeanor, to the behaviour of different social classes. Galateo was printed almost immediately in a separate edition, and its influence was such that in Italy the title became synonymous with books on etiquette.
The present edition is notable for having been printed by Bevilacqua with the types and fine woodcut historiated initials which Paulo Manuzio used to print for the Accademia Veneziana. Renouard thus includes it in his Annales de l'Imprimerie des Alde (p.175, no.15), stating that it is "bien exécuté et peu commun." Adams C-806; Brunet I:1610; Gamba 278.