La Gerusalemme Liberata/Jerusalem Delivered
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Full Title La Gerusalemme di Torquato Tasso figurata da Bernardo Castello a Carlo Emanuello di Savoia
Frontpiece title La Gerusalemme liberata di Torquato Tasso. Con le annotationi di Scipion Gentili, e di Giulio Guastavini, et li argomenti di Oratio Ariosti
Written by Torquato Tasso (1544-1595)
Illustrations (figurate) Camillo Cunigio after Bernardo Castello
Commentary by Scipio Gentili and Giulio Guastavini
Published by Giuseppe Pavoni, Genoa, 1617
Language: Italian
DESCRIPTION:
Tasso, Torquato. La Gerusalemme di Torquato Tasso. Genoa: Giuseppe Pavoni, 1617. The third illustrated edition of Jerusalem Delivered, 3 parts bound in one volume, Folio (28.4 cm X 19.7 cm ), [16], 255, [1], 71, [1], 36, [4] pages, 2 leaves of plates : illustrations (engravings); 31 cm (folio in 8s). Note Signatures: [dagger]⁴ 2[dagger]⁴ A-Q⁸ ²A-D⁸ E⁴ ³A-B⁸ C⁴; Colophon: In Genoua. Appresso Giuseppe Pavoni. MDCXVII; Text printed in double columns, with woodcut head and tail-pieces, decorated initials, and guide words, each "argomento" within ornamental border; 19 of 20 full-page engraved plates opening each of the twenty cantos, plate for "Canto Secondo" missing, replaced by a smaller plate depicting Satan from Canto Quinto without architectural setting. Engravings are signed by Bernardo Castello and Camillo C.F. The title page has an engraved "architectural setting with, at upper centresi, a portrait of Carlo Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy, in an ornate lettered cartouche; a central title flanked by Tuscan columns and crests with mottos and imprese showing compasses, at left, and a crossed sword and sceptre with a crown, at right; in the lower register, male and female figures in armour, perhaps representing Tancredi and Clorinda, with a central crest showing an impresa of armour Engraving with etching” (BM 1901,1014.92). Bound in later vellum with gold gilt title label on spine stamped on red Moroccan leather, with mottled red rubricated edges.
Provenance: "Comes Sancti Martini Valpergae," Count of St. Martin, Valperga (bookplate), which obscures what is likely an older bookplate.
FINELY ILLUSTRATED with 19 of 20 full-page engravings after Bernardo Castello by Camillo Cunigio, the "third and grandest Tasso series" (Unglaub & Poussin 2006, 235).
"Inscription content: Lettered with title of book "La Gerusalemme / di Torquato / Tasso / Figurata / da Bernardo Castello / a / Carlo Emanuello / Duca di Savoia" and lettered around portrait of Carlo Emanuele at upper centre "Spectandus Certamine Martio", with mottos "Dum Premor Amplior", "Illaesa Super Sunt" and "Nec Conduntur Nec Retunduntur", with publication detail "In Genova, Appresso Giuseppe Pavoni. Con licenza de' Superiori. MDCXVII." (BM 1901,1014.92)
CONDITION: Very good condition, beautifully preserved, securely bound, 19 of 20 full-page engraved plates opening each of the twenty cantos, plate for "Canto Secondo" missing, replaced by a plate smaller in size depicting Satan; boards and text with a slight, warp, notes and signature on loose front blank, occasional worming, and minor rips and tears, most repaired, with some repairs at outer and inner margins, the most significant of which include the front three leaves, counting the first and second title pages, some water damage at lower edge with bottom margin repair from p. 235-237; p. 197 and 203 with overly trimmed top margin likely from another non-rubricated copy bound in; slight splitting at p.188-89 (see photographs).
TOTAL LENGTH: [16], 255, [1], 71, [1], 36, [4] pages, 2 leaves of plates : illustrations (engravings) ; 31 cm (folio in 8s).
Signatures: [dagger]⁴ 2[dagger]⁴ A-Q⁸ ²A-D⁸ E⁴ ³A-B⁸ C⁴ (rectos of A6, D5, G1, I2, K1, L8, O2 and P2 are blank; verso of Q8 is blank)
Pagination errors: p. 22 and 43 (first sequence)are misnumbered as 2 and 33, respectively. Signature errors: F2 is missigned as E2 (L3 is missigned as L2).
References: Unglaub & Poussin 2006, 235; Brunet, 5, col. 666; Grässe, 6-7, p. 33; NUC pre-56, 583, p. 515; BM 1901,1014.92; Huntington Library 601576.