Augustinus, De la cita d'dio, [?Venice, 1476-78], Vernon-Ascherson-Rattey copy

Aurelius Augustinus

De civitate dei [Italian] De la cita d'dio. [Venice?: Antonio di Bartolommeo Miscomini, about 1476-78]

Chancery folio (295 x 200mm.), 324 leaves, a¹² a–i κ L m–z A–G¹⁰ H¹², double column, 47 lines, roman type, first initial in pink on a blue, green and gold ground and with small marginal extensions, initials and paraphs supplied in red or blue, nineteenth-century manuscript note in ink in Italian on initial blank leaf regarding this edition, later half calf over wooden boards in imitation of a contemporary binding, traces of two removed clasps, vellum endleaves, a few small wormholes, occasional very light staining, spine somewhat worn, joints almost broken

A LARGE CRISP COPY of the first Italian translation of La città di Dio with numerous deckle edges remaining.

LITERATURE:

ISTC ia01248000

PROVENANCE:

"Sancte Marie de p[opolo?] alme urbis", probably Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, inscription at head of F6; George John Warren, baron Vernon (1803-1866), of Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire, sale, Sotheby's, 10 June 1918, lot 44; Charles Stephen Ascherson (died 1945), bookplate; Clifford Rattey (1886-1970), bookplate