Dati, Opera, Siena, 1503, near-contemporary limp vellum

Agostino Dati

Opera. (Siena: Simone Nardi, 1503)

folio (320 x 218mm.), woodcut initials (the larger ones historiated, that on F2v with a portrait of an author), large woodcut printer's device on final verso, with blank leaf c10, near-contemporary limp vellum, later manuscript lettering on spine, manuscript fragments in binding containing passages from Juvenal (Satire 11) in a humanist hand, last leaf somewhat foxed,binding a little worn, lower hinge broken, lacking two pairs of ties

First collected edition of the writings of Agostino Dati (1420-1478), humanist and chancellor of the Republic of Siena, gathered by his son Niccolò and printed after his death through the efforts of his nephew Girolamo. As well as his Elegantiolae, the volume contains philosophical writings, speeches, letters, academic and polemical writings, a history of Siena and Piombino, and a Latin translation of the Greek dialogue Halcyon.

LITERATURE:

Edit16 16026 (variant A of the printer's device)

PROVENANCE:

early manuscript note at foot of title-page; Pietro Buoninsegna, printed booklabel dated Siena, 1814