Athenagoras, Della risurrettione de' morti, Venice, 1556, later vellum with arms of Fortescue

Athenagoras. Della risurrettione de' morti, tradotto in lingua italiana da Girolamo Faleti: con una oratione della nativita di Christo, composta dal medesimo Faleti. Venice: [Paolo Manuzio], 1556

Girolamo Faletti (died 1564) went to Venice in 1554 as ambassador for the court of Ferrara, where he became friends with Paolo Manuzio, who printed all his works. This is the first Italian translation of Athenagoras.

4to (192 x 148 mm). Roman type, 22 lines plus headline. collation: A-Q⁴: 64 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device on title-page. (A few light scattered stains)

binding: Nineteenth-century vellum over boards (199 x 155 mm), upper cover blind-stamped with the arms of George M. Fortescue, spine gilt in compartments, green morocco lettering-pieces. (Slightly soiled, lettering-pieces chipped, pinhole loss to head of spine.)

provenance: George Matthew Fortescue (1791-1877) — Christie Manson & Woods, London, 24 March 1971, lot 179, £18, to Alan G. Thomas. acquisition: Purchased from Alan G. Thomas, London, 1973. references: UCLA 499; Edit16 3343; Renouard 167/1