Author: Ariosto,Lodovicus (1474-1533)
Title: ORLANDO FURIOSO..
Description: Venice, Vincenzo Valgrisi 1490-1572 1562 Architectural titlepage with Caryatids , bust of Ariosto & "Vincent"Printer's mark +Woodcuts (51),+ f-p printer's emblem as colophon +over 50 large historiatied initials shewing erotic scenes,domestic scenes & trad. 240x171mm [4to in 8's] Very worn/damaged leather [lacks almost all of spine/& area along front hinge/corners worn) [xvi=titlepage +dedication +Life of Ariosto +letter to J.Ruscelli +table of names] +(32 =index)pp lacks last blank leaf. *Titlepage reinserted & 3 leaves loose or partly loose and one reinserted on stub. Page 83--6 in old neat manuscript, P 91-5 in facsimile & one 8 line stanza on pg 405 & verso 406 in the same old manuscript hand where lines were cut out. At the end of the 5 additional Cantos in the Second Part are additional notes etc. Here also are 4 leaves in the same old manuscript hand. Since the text being copied is in a very small font the writer has used 1 leaf of manuscript to copy 1 page of text thus only 2 leaves of the original are missing. The title is cut a bit short at the foot and there is some chipping to edges of about 8 leaves. There is some damp marking, fingering and soiling mainly to the lower margin of the book but sometimes into the lower stanzas of the text. Pagination often loose All pages are legible to and covers and paper is still strong and supple. *Influenced by medieval tales such as the Song of Rolland, this poem, first published in 1516 as a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato, tells the story of Charlegmane and the Franks in their struggle against the Saracens. Its "impact on western literature cannot be overstated". At 38,735 lines, this is one of the longest epic poems in European Literature. Valgrisi's edt of this work is particularly notable for two innovations: the start of every canto was preceded by a full page illustration (not a small vignette as was common in his time), and the text was accompanied by maps that followed the movements of the characters.

Keywords: illustrated classic (in need of repair)


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