Colombo, Fernando.

VILLANI, Giovanni. Croniche ... in quale si tratta dell'origine di Firenze, & di tutti e fatti & guerre state fatte da Fiorentini nella Italia ... Vinetia, Bartolomeo Zanetti, 1537 In folio; 290x200 mm; Binding in half leather and hardback with title on spine in gold on red morocco tassel and gold cuts; cc. [10], 219, [1]. Colophon on verso of dear 219: "In Vinetia, per Bartholomeo Zanetti Casterzagense, 1537 del mese d'Agosto." Large editorial mark depicting a putto holding an olive branch leaning against a trunk on the title page, repeated on the verso of the last paper, blank, historiated capilettera; Roman and Italic typeface. Numerous handwritten annotations in the margins of many pages, correcting the Italian text, and adding information. Moisture halo on a few papers, restored woodworm holes in upper margin of some papers, restoration in lower margin of some papers. First and very rare original edition. The most important of the ancient histories concerning Florence and Tuscany. The edition, edited by Giacomo Fascolo whose name appears on the verso of the Frontispiece, contains books I-X, and begins with the history of the tower of Babel, up to 1333. The first six books are based on legendary tales, re-proposed according to an interpretation very close to that of the Divine Comedy: the remaining ones, from 1265 to 1333, give an accurate picture of the political and economic conditions of two-thirds-century Florence. The "Chronicles" present not only thematic but also expressive links with the Commedia, such as to lead one to suppose a relationship of dependence between the two works. Under the year 1321, the earliest Dantesque biography is inserted into the Cronica: chapter CXXXV of Book IX, at paper 146, is a portrait of Dante Alighieri's personality and work and initiates the recovery of the great poet, who died in exile, by Florentine culture: it bears the title "Del poeta Dante & come morì" (Of the poet Dante & how he died) and concludes with an articulate but severe judgment regarding Dante's human qualities, described as "somewhat presumptuous and disgusting and unworthy."Giovanni Villani (1280-1348) is the leading Florentine chronicler of the fourteenth century.Gamba 1027; Lozzi 1957: "Rarissimo". Folio; 290x200mm; Quarter leather and cardboard binding with gilt title on the spine on a red morocco label, gilt edges; Leaves [10], 219, [1]. Colophon on verso of leaf 219: "In Vinetia, per Bartholomeo Zanetti Casterzagense, 1537 del mese d'Agosto." Large Printer's device depicting a putto holding an olive branch leaning against a trunk on titlepage and repetead on full page on recto of the last blank leaf; Historiated initial letters, roman and italic types. Numerous handwritten notes in the margins of all pages, which correct the Italian text adding informations. Sign of humidity on some leaves, worm holes restored on the upper margin of some pages, restorations on the lower margin of some leaves, overall good specimen. First and very rare first edition. The most important of the ancient histories concerning Florence and Tuscany. The edition, edited by Giacomo Fascolo whose name appears on the verso of the title page, contains books I-X, and begins with the story of the Tower of Babel, up to 1333. The first six books are based on legendary tales, re-proposed according to an interpretation very close to that of the Divine Comedy: the remaining ones, from 1265 to 1333, give a precise picture of the political and economic conditions in Florence in the 13th and 14th centuries. The 'Croniche' present not only thematic but also expressive links with the Commedia, such as to lead one to suppose a relationship of dependence between the two works. Chapter CXXXV of Book IX, on leaf 146, is a portrait of Dante Alighieri's personality and work, and initiates the recovery of the great poet, who died in exile, by Florentine culture. It bears the title "Del poeta Dante & come morì" (Of the poet Dante & how he died) and concludes with an articulate but severe judgement on Dante's human qualities, defined as ""somewhat presumptuous and disgusting and unworthy" ("somewhat presumptuous and disgusting and unworthy"). Giovanni Villani (1280-1348) is the greatest Florentine chronicler of the fourteenth century.