Details
SIMONETA, Johannes (d.1491). Commentarii rerum gestarum Francisci Sfortiae, in Italian: La Sforziada. Translated by Cristoforo Landino (1424-98). Milan: Antonius Zarotus, 1490.
Median 2° (309 x 220mm). Collation: a6 b-z8 &8 \\j8 \\a4 (a1r letter by Filelfo to Simoneta, a2r translator's dedication to Lodovico Sforza, a3v oration by Francesco Puteolano, a5r author's prologue, a6 blank, b1r text, \\a4 blank). 199 leaves (of 202, lacking the first leaf and without blank leaves a6 and \\a4). 44 lines. Type: 5:111Rb4. 6-7-line initial spaces with guide-letters. (Stained, small wormhole touching a few letters in final 3 quires.) 17th-century limp vellum, title lettered on spine and lower edge). Provenance: early inscription deleted from first page.
FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN. Simoneta, a member of Francesco Sforza's entourage, wrote this history to glorify the Sforza family and to assert its political legitimacy as dukes of Milan. It had been published in Latin in 1482 before being translated by Landino into Italian. An illuminated MS. of Landino's translation corrected by Simoneta survives in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan, and 4 deluxe copies of the present edition printed on vellum and illuminated by Giovan Pietro Birago are known. HC 14756; BMC VI, 721 (IB. 26058-9); Goff S-534; IGI 9015.
Median 2° (309 x 220mm). Collation: a6 b-z8 &8 \\j8 \\a4 (a1r letter by Filelfo to Simoneta, a2r translator's dedication to Lodovico Sforza, a3v oration by Francesco Puteolano, a5r author's prologue, a6 blank, b1r text, \\a4 blank). 199 leaves (of 202, lacking the first leaf and without blank leaves a6 and \\a4). 44 lines. Type: 5:111Rb4. 6-7-line initial spaces with guide-letters. (Stained, small wormhole touching a few letters in final 3 quires.) 17th-century limp vellum, title lettered on spine and lower edge). Provenance: early inscription deleted from first page.
FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN. Simoneta, a member of Francesco Sforza's entourage, wrote this history to glorify the Sforza family and to assert its political legitimacy as dukes of Milan. It had been published in Latin in 1482 before being translated by Landino into Italian. An illuminated MS. of Landino's translation corrected by Simoneta survives in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan, and 4 deluxe copies of the present edition printed on vellum and illuminated by Giovan Pietro Birago are known. HC 14756; BMC VI, 721 (IB. 26058-9); Goff S-534; IGI 9015.