PETRARCA, Francesco (1304-1374) - Le Rime del Petrarca brevemente esposte per Lodovico Castelvetro. Venice: Antonio Zatta, 1756.   A fine copy with wide margins printed on crisp paper of this magnificent Venetian edition celebrated for the illustrations and for the correctness of the text integrated by the life of Petrarch by Ludovico Beccadelli and by a compendium of it and a life of Castelvetro by Muratori. The iconographic apparatus is notable, full of delightful engravings by Gaetano Zompini, Bartolomeo Crivellari, Giambattista Brustolon.   2 volumes, 4to (291 x 216mm). Half-titles, engraved frontispiece in the first volume, engraved vignettes on titles, the first printed in red and black, many engraved headpieces and vignettes, 3 (some copies are described with 4) engraved plates in total: one with the dedication to Maria Antonia of Bavaria, one with the portraits of Petrarca, Laura and Castelvetro, one with further portraits of Laura and Petrarca in the second volume (small wormtrack on the lower margin of the first part of the first volume, light waterstain on the upper margin of gatherings L-R in the first volume, occasional soiling especially in the second volume, very light browning). Contemporary binding with leather spines over marbled paper plates, gilt decorations and title on spine labels, partially uncut (light rubbing and fading on spines, small wormholes). Most copies on the market contain 3 plates but some are described with 4. (2)

Estimate € 200 - 300

Sold € 400