DEL ROSSO (Paolo). - Lot 26

DEL ROSSO (Paolo). Al Gran cosmo medici illustriss. Et eccell. Duca di Fiorenza & di Siena. Comento sopra la Canzone di Guido Cavalcanti. Fiorenza [Florence]: Bartolomeo Sermartelli, 1568. - In-8, 163x103: 167 pp. Coarse-grained lemon morocco, gilt fillet along the edges of the boards, spine decorated with gilt fillet on the nerves, interior gilt roulette, gilt edges over marbling (19th century binding). Uncommon first edition. This is a printing of the Florentine man of letters Paolo Del Rosso's (1505-1569) important commentary on the love song beginning Donna mi prega, by Dante's poet and close friend Guido Cavalcanti (1250?-1300). Cavalcanti's poem covers just 3 pages (pp. 5-7). The remainder is devoted to the commentary, followed, from page 153, by the printing of three letters by Paolo Del Rosso, addressed respectively to Francesco Nasi, a Florentine gentleman (July 21, 1566), Giovan Battista Deti (October 30, 1566) and Antonio Adimari, a Florentine canon (July 30, 1566). Beautifully printed in italic type, with some attractive woodcut lettering. Browning and a few stains to binding, minor wear. Some foxing.