La Historia della Citta di Parma et de la Descrittione del fiume Parma

1591. () ANGELI, Bonaventura. La Historia della Citta di Parma, et la Descrittione del fiume Parma...divisa in otto libri. [16], 783 (i.e., 795), [1]; [160] pp., illustrated with large woodcut historiated initials at the beginning of each chapter, ornamental head- and tailpieces, plus the printer's woodcut device on title-page and colophon (f. Ddd4v). 4to, 203 x 147 mm., bound by Le Gascon in contemporary French blonde calf, double-ruled in gilt, framing a central armorial device with the monogram of Antoine de Sève at corners of inner panel on each board and in spine compartments (interlacing A.D.S.E.V.; Olivier 683, fer 2 and 3); spine with raised bands and title gilt in second compartment of six, the remaining five with same monogram; endpapers and fly-leaves ruled in red, contemporary document in secretary hand used as binder's waste visible (illegible) beneath endpapers; edges speckled red. In Parma: Appresso Erasmo Viotto, 1591. A history of the city and river of Parma, including regions in the surrounding Emilia Romagna. Angeli's history contains a plethora of detailed information on the buildings, sites, the Bapistry, the Ducal palace of Ottavio Farnese by Vignola, and accounts of the ruling noble families San Vitali, Pallavicino, Rossa, Torella, and Terza. Angeli dedicated his book to the Prince of Parma, Don Ranuccio Farnese. Bonaventura Angeli (ca. 1525-1592) Italian writer from Ferrara, along with his friend Gianbattista Pigna, formed an academy for the cultivation of literature called the Parthian Academy. For some time he was in the employ of the Dukes of Ferrara. His Historia della Citta di Parma is the most important of many works written by Angeli. At the time little was recorded of the city of Parma, of the history of the Parma river, or of the surrounding Emilia-Romagna region. Angeli consulted whatever archives he could locate in Parma and composed the book in eight chapters with several digressions on a general history of Italy. He supplied an exhaustive index of 160 pages at the end, printed in double columns. This volume was in the library of Philippe Desportes (1546-1606), the French courtier poet who was famous for composing villanelles, elegies and sonnets, many copied by English Elizabethan poets. Desportes was one of the major poets competing with Pierre de Ronsard for the favor of the Duke of Anjou. He worked under the patronage of King Henry III, for whom Desportes wrote poems upon royal request. He was granted the abbey of Tiron as a royal benefice for literary services rendered. The other early owner of this volume was Antoine de Sève (d. 1662), a counselor and chaplain to Louis XIV, prior at Champdieu, and Abbey of l'Isle-en-Barrois. His books, forming an important library of more than six thousand volumes on the sciences, were mainly bound by Antoine Ruette and Le Gascon. One of the tools found in this binding was used by de Sève only during his time at Champdieu. Binding extremities repaired. Trimmed close at upper margin near but not touching headline, two pages with small repair obscuring a few words of text, minor browning or foxing in a few quires, a beautiful book overall in an absolutely sumptuous binding. PROVENANCE: Philippe Desportes, with his ink inscription on title-page; Antoine de Sève, with his coat-of-arms and monogram on binding, from his famous library, see above. Adams 1095 (different collation). Brunet I, 287. Affo, Memorie degli Scrittori e Letterati Parmigiani IV, 209-240. Barotti, Memorie Istoriche di Letterati Ferraresi II, 187-194. CNCE 1768 (the pagination matches ours however the publication year given is "1590 (1589)").