G.F. Handel, Il Radamisto. Opera rapresentata nel regio teatro d'Haymarket, first edition, 1720

HANDEL, GEORGE FRIDERIC

Il Radamisto. Opera Rapresentata Nel Regio Teatro D'Haymarket, London: Richard Meares, 1720

FIRST EDITION, folio (c.33 x 23cm), 121 pages, engraved title and music (by T. Cross), printed privilege (14 June 1720), later marbled wrappers, red-gilt title label, some leaves loose at the start of the volume or reinforced at hinge, small tears to margins (pp.22-29 & 88/89), title and final 6 or so leaves repaired and restored at foot, a few paginations trimmed, [Smith no.1; RISM H 258; Hoboken 29; HWV 12]

Radamisto was Handel's first opera for the Royal Academy and "by far the finest opera seria hitherto heard in London" (Dean).