La Alamanna

Antonio Francesco Oliviero; Vincenzo Valgrisi

Published by Appresso Vicenzo Valgrisi, Venetia, 1567

About this Item

Full polished calf with armorial gilt stamp to front and rear covers. 5 raised bands with gilt tooling on bands and extensive gilt tooling and scrollwork in the compartments. Binding is marked on the inside scrolled border "Binda Milano" All edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Pagination to the 4 parts as follows: [16], 316, [4], 330, [6], 43, [1], 15, [1] p. Some illustrations. Text in Italian. A lengthy poem about the Schmalkaldic War (1546-1547). A few woodcuts, and delightful dated endpapers to each of the four parts. Very unusual to find all the parts in one place. A beautiful book. The coat of arms on the covers features a crowned eagle beneath a larger crown with the logo "Con Limpidezza" ("with clarity") in the scrollwork beneath. Most likely this book is derived from a member of the Adda Family, based on the design. Contents as follows: 1 pt. : Il primo libro de la Alamanna- Il duodecimo libro de la alemanna, con portada y paginación propias ; 2 pt. : Il terzodecimo libro de la Alamanna -- Il vigesimoquar. libro de la Alamanna, con portada y paginación propias ; 3 pt. : Carlo Quinto in olma ., con portada y paginación propias ; 4 pt. : L'Orgini D'Amore di M. Antonio Francesco Oliviero, p. 1-12 ; Canzone di M. Antonio Francesco Oliviero, p. 12-15. Publication information from colophon./ Signatures: A8, 2A-V8 (V8 blank), a-x8 (x8 blank), aa-bb8, cc6, aaa8./ Title within a woodcut frame: Charles V on horseback under a triumphal arch with imperial arms. On t.p. verso is a woodcut portrait of Oliviero within an armorial frame./ Woodcuts from t.p. and t.p. verso are repeated at the beginning of the 2nd and 3rd parts, but with a change of title for the 3rd part./ Full-page printer's mark with publication information at end of each of the four sections of text./ Historiated woodcut initials. Twelve full-page and 24 half-page woodcut illustrations, each within a four-piece border. Rare. First edition of this lavishly produced epic poem on the Schmalkaldic war, Charles V's successful effort to force the Protestant princes into submission in 1546-1547. The standing figures in the title woodcut are Charles' generals in the war, including the Duke of Alba, the Duke of Castro, Philip II, and Maximilian. The other cuts show various battles of the war with Charles V and other participants, maps, and city views. It appears from Valgrisi's preface to Part Two that many more elaborate illustrations had been planned throughout the text, but were not realized because of the considerable expense involved. VG+ a superb copy internally, covers have been re-attached expertly with minor filling of missing leather at base of spine, a very attractive volume with `19th century marbled endpapers. Seller Inventory # 176968

Bibliographic Details

Title: La Alamanna

Publisher: Appresso Vicenzo Valgrisi, Venetia

Publication Date: 1567

Binding: Leather bound