Dante Alighieri

8vo (149 x 93mm.), text in italics, woodcut Aldine device at end, with blank leaf l2, nineteenth-century mottled vellum, lacking a1 and a8 (supplied in printed facsimile), a2-3 slightly soiled, a few small wormholes towards end

William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899; library stamp on title-page

Censimento 16 CNCE 1144; Renouard 34/5; Texas 52; UCLA 59.5

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."

Second issue of the first Aldine edition, with the device on the final verso. It was the first edition of Dante to be produced in a small format, and was edited by Pietro Bembo; his title, Le terze rime, was not used in future editions. In this copy, in the last two lines of text below the colophon, the line beginning Cautum is indented; copies are known with the second line indented (and both settings are recorded with the device).