Doni, Antonio Francesco (?1513-1574).

Ibid. La moral filosophia... tratta da gli antichi scrittori. Venice: Francesco Marcolini, 1552, 152pp., illustration: woodcut illustration on title-page, woodcut illustrations, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, [Censimento 16 CNCE 17694; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 65]

2 works in one volume, 4to (198 x 139mm.), binding: seventeenth-century calf, spine gilt in compartments, lettering-piece, one spine compartment deliberately gouged 

Nicolas-Joseph Foucault, bookplate

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Doni was an eccentric Florentine writer with a finger in every literary pasticcio. I marmi ("Marbles") is a series of scatty and satirical dialogues. La moral filosophia is ostensibly a translation of the fables of Bidpai by members of the Accademia dei Pellegrini and Doni's input here is largely editorial. However, only eighteen of the fables included appear in the original Panchatantra, whilst sixteen are from Burzoë's reworking, seven from later sources and two more from Aesop. It was, however, Doni's selection that was translated by Sir Thomas North in 1568 and presented as the first English translation of Bidpai, thus postdating by many years the first English appearance of Aesop and Dialogus creatuarum moralizatus (see lot 4432).