DANTE ALIGHIERI (1265-1321) - Commedia. Venice: Vindelino da Spira, 1477.   An excellent and fascinating copy with wide margins of this edition of the Comedy in a Bedford binding and with important provenance. Published only five years after the Princeps (Foligno, 1472), it was realized by Cristoforo Berardi from Pesaro and printed by Vindelino de Spira in Venice. It is the first edition with commentary and the first to contain Boccaccio's Life of Dante, one of the most important Dante biographical sources to date. The comment is unanimously attributed to Jacopo della Lana and not to Benvenuto da Imola, as recited in the sonnet of subscription. BMC V 248; Leg 382; Goff D 27; GW 7964; Hain 5942 *.   Folio (337 x 233mm). 375 leaves (376 or 377 depending on the bibliographies - according to Hain there are 377, but in the others 376 - with the first and a1 blank but without the final blank 2p12), 45-50 lines, gothic text in 2 columns, white spaces for illuminated initials.   Signature: a⁶ χ e⁸ a¹⁰ (a1 bianca) b-k¹⁰ l-m⁸ n-s¹⁰ t-v⁸ x-y¹⁰ 2a-2g¹⁰ 2h-2i⁸ 2k-2o¹⁰ 2p¹¹ (di ¹²) (without 2p12 bianca); some leaves are misbound: n5 and n6 are in gathering y, x5 and x6 in gathering t and y5 and y6 in gathering x (light marginal spotting on first and final leaves, repaired tear on the white margin of leaf c3, small loss due to paper flaw in the upper corner of leaf gg8).   Elaboratly blind-stamped and richly decorated gilt binding signed by Bedford, gilt borders on covers, two medallions decorated with intertwined motifs at center, gilt edges, vellum endpapers (some minimal wear to joints); preserved in a matching box (some scratches). Provenance: early inscription on the first blank - Castlecraig Library (bookplate) - Robert Hoe (bookplate, bibliophile 1839-1909) - Thomas David Gibson Carmichael (1859-1926, his collection sold at Sotheby's Wilkinson & Hodge, London, 1903) - Luigi and Sandra Morandi (bookplate) - Giuseppe Martini (bookplate, 1870-1944).   The lot is accompanied by a export license.

Estimate € 40,000 - 60,000

Sold € 75,000