NEGRI, Cesare Milanese (1535-1605) - Le Gratie d'Amore. [Milan: P.Pontio e G.B.Piccaglia, 1602?].   A study copy, probably the first edition, of the first illustrated dance treatise, composed by Cesare Negri called "the trombone". Negri was a performer and event coreographer for the most important European families. He even performed for Don Giovanni of Austria at the banquet offered by Andrea Doria in Genoa before they embarked to reach the Holy League fleet in Lepanto. The work is divided into three parts, the first listing famous dancers and their patrons; the second dedicated to the "gagliarda" that Negri minutely illustrates in all its steps and variations; the third llustrates a series of other minor dances. The work is perhaps the most important source for the knowledge of dance in the second half of the 16th-century. (The second edition of 1604 is a reproduction of the first with the varied title page, the present copy presents on paper q1 the printed correction applied with the initial letter of the first edition).   4to (300 x 210mm). Author portrait printed in facsimile on old paper, 58 illustrations in text (lacking gathering *, including titlepage and dedication letter to Philip II, waterstaining and spottings, some restaurations in text with paper supplied, more important losses to the superior margins of last two leaf of index). Late XIX-century half vellum with title on spine label.

Estimate € 2,000 - 3,000

Sold € 2,800