- 249
Dante Alighieri
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Dante Alighieri
- Divina commedia [with the commentary of Christoforo Landino and edited by Piero da Figino]. Venice: Bernardinus Benalius and Matteo Capcasa, 3 March 1491
- Paper
Chancery folio (263 x 196mm.), 302 leaves, (1-IV)10 a-z [et] [con] [rum] A8 B6 C-I8 K6 L8, 61 lines of commentary surrounding text plus headline, roman type, 4 nearly full-page woodcuts (3 blocks, 1 repeat) each within historiated woodcut full border, 97 vignette woodcuts, white-on-black historiated and floriated woodcut initials, woodcut printer's device on last page (Kristeller 187), lines of verse in an early hand on L8v (otherwise blank), modern vellum, first leaf torn at foot and restored with loss of text, other leaves in that gathering with small tears (some repaired) in lower margin, tear in L8 repaired, one wormhole in text, last gathering strengthened at hinge, some leaves cropped with loss of text in upper and outer margins, some dampstaining
Literature
Goff D32; H 5949 (var.); BMC v 373 (var.); Bod-inc D-015; GW 7969 (Anm. 1); Essling 531; Sander 2313
Condition
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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Third fully illustrated edition of Dante, the first with a full cycle of illustration. The illustration scheme follows closely that of the Ragazzo/Giunta Italian Bible which appeared less than five months earlier (Goff B644): a major frontispiece cut within an architectural frame introduces each of the three parts with numerous vignette cuts for the cantos. The cuts have been attributed to Hind's Venetian "popular designer", recently named the Master of Pico. Before the end of the year, the cuts were copied in the Dante printed by Petrus de Plasiis (Goff D33). The cuts were again used in Capcasa's 1493 (Goff D34) and Zanni's 1507 (Sander 2319) editions.
The pseudo-Dante "Credo", including Italian versions of the Pater Noster and Ave Maria, has more recently been attributed to the fourteenth-century poet Antonio Beccari. There were numerous quarto pamphlet incunable editions, all of highest rarity.
The pseudo-Dante "Credo", including Italian versions of the Pater Noster and Ave Maria, has more recently been attributed to the fourteenth-century poet Antonio Beccari. There were numerous quarto pamphlet incunable editions, all of highest rarity.