first edition Hardcover
1590 · Genoa
by Tasso, Torquarto; Annotations of Scipio Gentili and Giulio Guastavini
Genoa: Girolamo Bartoli, 1590. 1st Edition thus. Hardcover. Very Good. Castello, Bernardo; Agostino Caracci; Giacomo Franco. 8vo. First illustrated version of "Gerusalemme Liberata". 255, 69, 40, [8] pp. With 20 plates of illustrations and illustrated title page, along with decorative tail and header elements framing each canto. Quarto, 9.5 by 7 inches or 24 by 17 cm. Brunet V 665. Gamba 948. Govi 137. (Govi, I Classici Che Hanno Fatto L'Italia, giorgio Regnani Editore, Modena 2010.) Agostino Caracci, brother of the more famous artist Annibalee Caracci -- both worked on celebrated frescos of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome -- contributed to the ornamenting of the plates to Canto 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20. Bound in nineteenth century vellum, with also Victorian Era marbled endpapers. Soilage scattered throughout, yet text remains attractive. Plates are also quite vivid and bright, with some soilage in their margins. Prior owner stamped an oval seal on the base margin of the plate, not touching the plate, and this impression while generally faded, also has shadow on facing page. Vellum has light soilage but remains healthy. Boards are flat -- no warping of vellum. Minor chip to title label and to place/year label, in neither case affecting gilt lettering.
(Inventory #: 001147)