Sansovino, Venetia citta nobilissima et singolare, Venice, 1581, contemporary limp vellum, Kenneth Clark copy

Sansovino, Francesco. Venetia citta nobilissima et singolare, descritta in XIIII libri da m. Francesco Sansovino. Nella quale si contengono tutte le guerre passate, con l'attioni illustri di molti senatori. Le vite de i principi, et gli scrittori veneti del tempo loro. Le chiese, fabriche, edifici, et palazzi publichi, et privati. Le leggi, gli ordini, et gli usi antichi et moderni, con altre cose appresso notabili, et degne di memoria. Venice: (Domenico Farri for) Giacomo Sansovino, 1581

First edition of the first guidebook to Venice. Sansovino describes the physical appearance of the city and its art and architecture and also provides brief biographies of all the doges and a chronology of events; the latter provides not just Anno Domini dates but also ab urbe condita from the year 421, in which the church of San Giacomo was supposedly founded on the Rialto, rather than the date of settlement, given here as 407. Sansovino had previously published a history of Venice with information about current customs and practices (1561).

4to (205 x 145 mm). Roman and italic type, 37 lines plus headline. collation: A⁴ [2]A⁶ B-Z⁴ Aa-Zz⁴ Aaa-Zzz⁴ aa-hh⁴ ii⁶ a-g⁴ h⁶: 354 leaves. Woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials, (Some staining at head of quires O-Y, quires Aa and Sss slightly browned, other occasional light foxing, small rust stains on Hhh4.)

binding: Contemporary limp vellum (213 x 160 mm), slight foredge flaps, lettered in manuscript on spine, Hebrew manuscript fragments in binding. (Binding slightly soiled, upper hinge broken, pastedowns slightly torn.)

provenance: Cosimo Agostini di Pisa, inscription on inside front cover — Kenneth Clark (1903-1983), Saltwood bookplate. acquisition: Purchased in 1990 from Bernard Quaritch, London. references: Edit16 31176