DANTE ALIGHIERI (1265-1321) - Commedia. Venice: Vindelino da Spira, 1477.   Fifth edition of the Divine Comedy with some pages from another copy. Published only five years after the princeps (Foligno, 1472), it was made by Cristoforo Berardi from Pesaro and printed by Vindelino de Spira in Venice. This 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 (318 x 230mm). a⁶ (but without a1 blank) χ e⁸ a¹⁰ (a1 blank) b-k¹⁰ l-m⁸ n-s¹⁰ t-v⁸ x-y¹⁰ 2a-2g¹⁰ 2h-2i⁸ 2k-2o¹⁰ 2p¹² (but (without 2p12 blank);   (without first and final blank, a6 replaced by an 18th-century manuscript, first leaf and χ remarginated, some other other initial and final leaves reinforced at the inner margin and therefore slightly shorter than the outer one and possibly from another copy, the final leaf with 3 wormholes at inner margin, some other leaves from another copy such as those with red and blue initials of gatherings 2c and 2d which also appear to be with augmented margins at bottom end, tear repaired in o10, some general staining, tears, browning, occasional soiling and waterstainig).   17th or 18th-century vellum recently recased with title and manuscript decoration on spine (minimal defects, later endpapers). Provenance: ancient pagination in pen at top right corner, a few sporadic maniculae and underlinings, 2a5 with an early erased inscription by a private possessor "Ego Laurentius Mamignatus?" and dog drawing deleted in 2b1.

Estimate € 4,000 - 6,000

Sold € 9,500