VITRUVIUS POLLIO, MARCUS. De Architectura Libri Dece traducti de latino in Vulgare. (Como: Gottardo da Ponte, 15 July 1521). Median folio, 382 x 268mm. (15 1/16 x 10 1/2 in.), contemporary vellum, remains of ties, title lettered in ink along spine, upper joint split, worn and soiled, lacking the errata leaf, large corner repair to title-leaf catching corner of woodcut device and six words and woodcut initial on verso, a few small tears at gutters of quire Z, first quire partly detached, final leaf creased, frayed and softened, with 7-inch tear repaired with old scotch tape and corner repair affecting four letters, some marginal foxing, occasional dampstaining and other minor stains, fungal staining to gutter of P5-6, a few leaves discolored. First Edition in Italian, P3 and P4 signed correctly, printer's woodcut swan device on title-page and different device on Z7v, 117 woodcuts (including one repeat), of which nine full-page, the cut on X6r signed with Cesare Cesariano's monogram and dated 1519, many of the other cuts attributed to him, numerous 10-line and smaller historiated and ornamental white-on-black woodcut initials. The first edition in any vernacular tongue, translated by Bono Mauro da Bergamo and Benedetto Jovio da Comasco, with the commentary by Cesare Cesariano, whose fine illustrations show the influence of Leonardo. "The plans and elevations of Milan Cathedral [three full-page cuts on on B6-7] ...are said to be the earliest authentic representations of Gothic architecture in a printed book"--Fowler 395; Adams V-914; Brunet V, 1330; Berlin Katalog 1802; Harvard/Mortimer Italian 544.

Details
VITRUVIUS POLLIO, MARCUS. De Architectura Libri Dece traducti de latino in Vulgare. (Como: Gottardo da Ponte, 15 July 1521). Median folio, 382 x 268mm. (15 1/16 x 10 1/2 in.), contemporary vellum, remains of ties, title lettered in ink along spine, upper joint split, worn and soiled, lacking the errata leaf, large corner repair to title-leaf catching corner of woodcut device and six words and woodcut initial on verso, a few small tears at gutters of quire Z, first quire partly detached, final leaf creased, frayed and softened, with 7-inch tear repaired with old scotch tape and corner repair affecting four letters, some marginal foxing, occasional dampstaining and other minor stains, fungal staining to gutter of P5-6, a few leaves discolored. First Edition in Italian, P3 and P4 signed correctly, printer's woodcut swan device on title-page and different device on Z7v, 117 woodcuts (including one repeat), of which nine full-page, the cut on X6r signed with Cesare Cesariano's monogram and dated 1519, many of the other cuts attributed to him, numerous 10-line and smaller historiated and ornamental white-on-black woodcut initials.

The first edition in any vernacular tongue, translated by Bono Mauro da Bergamo and Benedetto Jovio da Comasco, with the commentary by Cesare Cesariano, whose fine illustrations show the influence of Leonardo. "The plans and elevations of Milan Cathedral [three full-page cuts on on B6-7] ...are said to be the earliest authentic representations of Gothic architecture in a printed book"--Fowler 395; Adams V-914; Brunet V, 1330; Berlin Katalog 1802; Harvard/Mortimer Italian 544.