29 - GUARNERI G.: DE BELLO CYPRIO LIBRI TRES. BERGAMO, 1597

GUARNERI G.: DE BELLO CYPRIO LIBRI TRES. BERGAMO, 1597 First edition, in 4to, unbound but stitched and in a fine contemporary vellum light pocket-case with owners name, complete: title page,7 unnumbered leaves and 174 numbered leaves, some scattered light browning and spotting, first leave (blank) almost detached, overall in very good condition. An extremely rare account on Cyprus. Guerneri work is a history of the war of Cyprus and its capture by the Ottomans, it also celebrates the contemporary Christian naval victory at Lepanto (Nafpaktos). The first part describes the initial Ottoman invasion, the ruin of the Cypriot countryside, the errors of the Venetian governors and the brutal sack of Nicosia highlighting the tragic fate of the local population. The second part covers the epic siege of Famagusta, the exhaustion of the city defenders forcing Bragadin to negotiate an honorable surrender, the breaking of the terms by the Turks and the subsequent tortures of Venetians. The last part deals with the Christian counter attack and the naval battle of Lepanto. Guerneri, a prominent Italian scholar, did meticulous research and provided an original account with many, completely unknown from other sources, details about the events in Cyprus. He had drawn material from the Venetian archives and dispatches as well from eyewitnesses that fought in Cyprus or evacuated the island after its capture. An invaluable source for Cyprus. References: Ioannou 227, Adams G-1446, not in Atabey or Blackmer