Author: ASTOLFI (Giovanni Felice)
Title: Scelta curiosa, et ricca officina di varie antiche, & moderne istorie, divisa in tre libri. Composta da Gio. Felice Astolfi, et adornata di belle, & vaghe figure: nella quale si spiegano esempi notabili, virtù e difetti pertinenti. Da' quali può agevolmente il professore di lettere, e d'armi, lo studioso d'istoria, di poesia, di costumi & di cose varie, il curioso & lo sfacendato ancora trarre utilità di correggere non pur i mancamenti altrui, ma gli propri, e d'incaminarsi nella strada della virtù.
Description: Venice: Marchio Sessa, 1602. Small 4to (218 x 155 mm), [xxiv], 518, [1, blank]pp., from the Beckford library, initials 'F.H.G.' stamped in ink to front endpaper, with a pencil note signed by the same relating to the engravings within, engraved printer's device on title page of a cat with a rat in its mouth, copiously illustrated with half-page woodcut vignettes at chapter headings, woodcut initials, woodcut head and tail-pieces, bound in full nineteenth-century Russia leather, covers tooled in gilt and blind as is the spine, green binder's ticket of C. Kaltthoeber to front endpaper, joints a little rubbed, all edges gilt, a very nice copy. First edition of a collection of tales of virtues and vices exemplified by miscellaneous historical figures. Provenance: Hamilton Palace Libraries, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 29th November 1883, lot 717, sold to Rev. F. Gall for £1 10s; the library of Lord Gretton, Stapleford Park, Leicestershire.

Keywords: EARLY PRINTING WILLIAM BECKFORD HAMILTON PALACE LIBRARY TALES VIRTUES