Brancaccio, Della vera disciplina; Della nuova disciplina, Venice, 1582 & 1585, 2 volumes, vellum

BRANCACCIO, GIULIO CESARE

Two editions of Brancaccio's work on military discipline based on Caesar, comprising:

i. Della vera disciplina, et arte militare sopra i comentari di Giulio Cesare, da lui ridotti in compendio per commodità de' soldati. Venice: Vittorio Baldini, 1582, folio (297 x 208mm.), woodcut device on title-page and above colophon, woodcut initials and tailpieces, with final errata leaf, contemporary limp vellum, occasional light staining, binding somewhat worn

ii. Della nuova disciplina & vera arte militare... libri VIII. Venice: Aldo Manuzio, 1585, folio (318 x 220mm.), woodcut device on title-page, woodcut initials and tailpieces, without final blank, contemporary limp vellum, H1_4 slightly browned, lacking 2 pairs of ties

together 2 volumes

Brancaccio (1515-1586) was a courtier, musician and a military man; born in Naples, he joined the Imperial army in the 1530s and 1540s and fought against Barbarossa, the French, the Schmalkaldic League and Algerian pirates. He later fought in the French army and served at other European courts, possibly becoming involved in espionage. This is his only military work, and it was financed by a Jewish moneylender; the contract stipulates that 2,050 copies would be printed.

The appearance of both volumes is very similar, both in layout and typography, despite the different printers named. Baldini's shop was in Ferrara, and it is possible that he commissioned Aldo's presses in Venice to produce the 1582 edition for him.

LITERATURE:

Cockle 557; Edit16 7430 & 7431; Renouard 235/2