46 - BANDELLO, Matteo. Novelle del Bandello.

BANDELLO, Matteo. Novelle del Bandello. A remarkable reprint on fine laid paper of the original edition of Matteo Bandello’s famous collection of short stories, one of the masterpieces of Italian Renaissance prose. London, Harding, 1740 for the 4 volumes; Lucca, Busdrago, 1554 for volumes I through III; and Lyon, Marsilii, 1573 for volume IV. 4 parts in 3 in-4 volumes, full brown sheepskin, ribbed spine highlighted with a special fillet, gold fleurons running lengthwise between the ribs, frieze at top and bottom, title and volume number labels in green morocco, gilded lace framing the covers, gilded fillet on the edges, red edges, untrimmed (contemporary binding). 368 ff. and 1 f.n.ch. (errata); 390 ff. and 1 f.n.ch.; 5 ff.n.ch. (table), 231 ff. followed by 4 ff.n.ch. and 132 ff., repeated title medallion, numerous engraved initials. In Italian. Bindings rubbed, spines cracked, caps damaged, joints split, gallery on one cover, fragile seams in the middle of the third volume, some foxing, mostly in the margins. A superb reprint on fine laid paper of the original editions from Lucca (Lucca, Busdrago, 1554 for Volumes I–III) and Lyon (Marsilii, 1573 for Volume IV). Matteo Bandello’s (1485–1561) *Nouvelles*, numbering 214 and inspired by Boccaccio, represent one of the pinnacles of Italian Renaissance prose. A mirror of the customs, intrigues, crimes, and passions of 16th-century Italy, these tales served as a direct source of inspiration for Elizabethan theater, particularly for Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet). A fine copy with wide margins, complete in 3 identically bound volumes.