Between the Covers

Softcover. First Italian edition. Translated by Lorenzo Conti. Quarto. [40], 803, [1]pp., woodcut title vignette and illustrated woodcut initials. Contemporary pastepaper boards with original sewing along the joints, edges sprinkled red. Signed manuscript note dated from: "Malta, 2 December 1839" laid-down on the front pastedown, identifying this copy as belonging to: "the Library of the Knights of Malta of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem." Two small laid-paper strips are pasted over an early ownership signature on the title page to the left and right of the woodcut vignette. The pastepaper binding is frayed at the edges and torn along the front joint, both free endpapers are nearly detached, modest intermittent old dampstaining and some worming to the top margin, good. The scarce, first Italian edition of Commynes celebrated *Mémoires* in a contemporary binding, and with a compelling provenance.

Item #395572