First Venetian Edition of the Poetry of Benedetto Varchi

Benedetto Varchi. I SONETTI DI M. BENEDETTO VARCHI, NOVELLAMENTE MESSI IN LUCE. Venice: per Plinio Pietrasanta, 1555. First Venetian edition (published first in Florence the same year without the eclogues). Full vellum, yapp edges, morocco label with gilt on spine. 8vo; p4 A-X8; [8], 302, [34]pp. (final 2 leaves blank). Italic type; text in Italian. With dedication by Giorgio Benzone. With woodcut printer's device, initials, and head-pieces. Edit16 34717; USTC 862022.
Benedetto Varchi (Italy, 1503-1565) was an author, poet, and humanist, who spent a large part of his career working for the Medici family. His significance in early 16th- century Italy is evident in his portrait painted by the famous Venetian artist, Titian.
From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.
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Typical mild discoloration to vellum, some marks to back cover, spine with manuscript at head, sticker at tail, label with small chip; later manuscript on free endpaper; pages crisp with very light toning and foxing, occasional light grime, and corner damp staining, title page with small repair; a very good copy in solid binding of this rare edition; WorldCat lists 9 library copies at time of review.