Lot 102: FLORENCE 1579 -- GUALTEROTTI, Raffaello. Feste nelle nozze Del Don Francesco Medici Et sua Consorte Bianca Cappello . Florence: Giunta Press, 1579.

FLORENCE 1579 -- GUALTEROTTI, Raffaello. Feste nelle nozze Del Don Francesco Medici Et sua Consorte Bianca Cappello. Florence: Giunta Press, 1579.

4o (212 x 137 mm), 2 parts in one volume. Table on H2r and colophon on H2v (imposed in reversed order in the Liechtenstein copy, see previous lot), first state of the outer forme of sheet Bb. 16 folded etched plates by ACCURSIO BALDI and BASTIANO MARSILI after the author's designs. Woodcut title-border, initials and printers' device. (Some staining, outer margin of plate H slightly frayed, tiny hole in plate N.) 18th-century calf (rebacked). Provenance: Herbert Reichner (sold to Gourary 1953).

FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION, the issue with all etchings printed in black. For a description of the magnificent mostre and the remarkable illustrations, see the previous lot. Grand Duke Francesco I was a great patron of the arts, employing among other geniuses the architect, engineer, inventor of machines, fireworks and fountains, BERNARDO BUONTALENTI, who designed the magnificent palace and gardens of Pratolino for Bianca Cappello. Gualterotti gives a long and detailed verse description of Pratolino in part 2 of this book, as well as an epithalamium for the wedding of Bianca's daughter Perregrina Cappello to Ulisse Bentivoglio. This complete copy has all plates with full margins. Bertelà & Tofani, Feste e Apparati Medicei (1979) p. 45-55; Camerini, Giunti 87; Harvard/Mortimer French 223.

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