DONI, Anton Francesco (1513-1574). I marmi . Venice: Francesco Marcolini 1552-53. First edition of an unconventional work of imaginary dialogues by the eccentric and pugnacious Anton Doni, illustrated with a trove of woodcuts from other works . Over a hundred different interlocutors—some real people, some fictional characters, and some animated marble statues—converse on the steps of the Duomo in Florence. The discussions include an encomium on the invention of printing and the contributions of Aldus Manutius rants about the unequal distribution of wealth, and recitations of poems and stories. According to the text, Doni composed this book (as well as another similar work, I mondi ) by sitting in the middle of Marcolini's printing shop and handing the compositor his copy as he wrote, and then selecting woodblocks on a whim from his and Marcolini’s stock. Thus the illustrations—which range from portraits of real individuals and scenes from Italian literature by Ariosto and Dante to a woodcut of a fool riding a lobster—appropriately mimic the manic variety of the work itself. Adams D-824; Mortimer Italian 165. See Ruth Mortimer, "The Author's Image: Italian Sixteenth-Century Printed Portraits," Harvard Library Bulletin (Summer 1996), pp. 45-46. Quarto (207 x 150mm). Woodcut devices on last pages of each part within full-page scrollwork borders; title of part 1 with large globe device, parts 2-4 each with a different device; numerous other woodcut illustrations; woodcut ornaments and historiated initials (title slightly soiled, some repaired wormholes in gutter margin, small pale dampstain to lower corner). Contemporary limp vellum, gilt arms, title in ink on spine and faded on lower edge (somewhat worn, tears and loss to lower spine, lower hinge strengthened with neat repairs to final few leaves). Provenance: Prince Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex (1773-1843, sixth son of King George III; armorial bookplate) – Arthur and Charlotte Vershbow (bookplate; their sale, Christie's New York, 9-10 April 2013, lot 163).
DONI, Anton Francesco (1513-1574). I marmi . Venice: Francesco Marcolini 1552-53. First edition of an unconventional work of imaginary dialogues by the eccentric and pugnacious Anton Doni, illustrated with a trove of woodcuts from other works . Over a hundred different interlocutors—some real people, some fictional characters, and some animated marble statues—converse on the steps of the Duomo in Florence. The discussions include an encomium on the invention of printing and the contributions of Aldus Manutius rants about the unequal distribution of wealth, and recitations of poems and stories. According to the text, Doni composed this book (as well as another similar work, I mondi ) by sitting in the middle of Marcolini's printing shop and handing the compositor his copy as he wrote, and then selecting woodblocks on a whim from his and Marcolini’s stock. Thus the illustrations—which range from portraits of real individuals and scenes from Italian literature by Ariosto and Dante to a woodcut of a fool riding a lobster—appropriately mimic the manic variety of the work itself. Adams D-824; Mortimer Italian 165. See Ruth Mortimer, "The Author's Image: Italian Sixteenth-Century Printed Portraits," Harvard Library Bulletin (Summer 1996), pp. 45-46. Quarto (207 x 150mm). Woodcut devices on last pages of each part within full-page scrollwork borders; title of part 1 with large globe device, parts 2-4 each with a different device; numerous other woodcut illustrations; woodcut ornaments and historiated initials (title slightly soiled, some repaired wormholes in gutter margin, small pale dampstain to lower corner). Contemporary limp vellum, gilt arms, title in ink on spine and faded on lower edge (somewhat worn, tears and loss to lower spine, lower hinge strengthened with neat repairs to final few leaves). Provenance: Prince Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex (1773-1843, sixth son of King George III; armorial bookplate) – Arthur and Charlotte Vershbow (bookplate; their sale, Christie's New York, 9-10 April 2013, lot 163).
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