Dante Alighieri

Super-Chancery folio (317 x 225mm.), 374 leaves (of 376, without blank a1 and final blank), ā-ē⁸; a-i K¹⁰ l⁸; m⁸ n-s¹⁰ t-v⁸ x-y¹⁰; aa-gg¹⁰ hh-ii⁸ KK-OO¹⁰ PP¹², double column, 49 lines plus headline, gothic type, 3- to 12-line initial spaces, early manuscript annotations, later Italian vellum, with a loosely inserted leaf containing notes in English about collation (nineteenth-century), a10 misbound before ā8, occasional light staining (particularly in final quire), a few leaves at beginning and end reinforced in gutter, lacking 4 pairs of ties, binding somewhat worn

Alexander Douglas, 10th Duke of Hamilton (1767-1852), Hamilton Palace library, sale, Sotheby's, 3 May 1884, lot 644, £11, to [Edward William] Stibbs (bookseller, died 1891); William O'Brien, pencil notes regarding collation

Goff D27; HC(+Add) 5942; BMC v 248; BSB-Ink D-8; Bod-inc D-010; GW 7964; Grosjean & O'Connell 47

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."

A LARGE AND CRISP COPY.

This is considered the seventh edition of Dante, following on from the first in 1472. It is the first to contain extensive commentary, "a heavyweight volume both literally and metaphorically, edited by Cristoforo Berardi of Pesaro. The text does not follow a single previous edition, and it seems likely that Berardi's independence (as a Pesarese) from northern Italy led him to use a manuscript." He also included supplementary information, such as Boccaccio's life of Dante (its first appearance in print) and rubriche at the start of each cantica. "Berardi's edition thus marked a new approach to the presentation in print of the major literary works in the vernacular" (B. Richardson, Print Culture in Renaissance Italy, 1994, p. 37).

In contrast to all the other incunabular editions of Dante, the text here is set in gothic type. Some spaces have been left in the text for illustrations to be added, and on l7v a contemporary ink diagram of Dante's spheres has been added.