Plutarch. La prima [- seconda] parte delle Vite, 2 vol., translated by Lodovico Domenichi, woodcut printer's device to titles and a different version to final f. in each vol., woodcut historiated initials and head-pieces, vol. 1 title loose, vol. 2 title with two small paper repairs at foot, occasional ink stains (or similar), faint damp-stains and finger soiling, handsomely bound in near contemporary black morocco, stamped in blind and gilt, with panel design featuring a device recalling the six hills or mountains of the Cesi arms at the outer corners, each vol. with title in gilt to upper cover, rebacked, tiny chip to vol. 2 lower cover edge, handsome gauffered and painted edges, with foliate and flower designs and the fore-edges showing the Cesi coat of arms, vol. 1 within a circle and vol. 2 a shield, the latter quite faded, 4to (231 x 149mm.), Venice, Gabriele Giolito de Ferrari, 1560.

⁂ A beautiful copy of Lodovico Domenichi's Italian translation of Plutarch's Vitae, once belonging to the Italian aristocratic Cesi family. The splendid fore-edges bear the full Cesi crest of tree rising from six stylised hills, that of the first volume still particularly rich in colour, and imbue a distinct feeling of luxury to this otherwise sombre and discreet example of sixteenth century armorial binding. This edition of the ‘Vite’ a re-issue by Giolito with a recomposed title-page dated 1560 (first edition 1555).

Provenance: likely from the library of Federcio Cesi, Duke of Acquasanta (1585-1630), founder of the Accademia dei Lincei (Lincean Academy) in 1603, and one of the most influential patrons of Galileo Galilei. A copy of Giolito’s edition of the Vite is mentioned in an inventory of Federico's books located at Acquasparta which never entered the Lincean Academy; seemingly compiled in 1631 following his death to divide inheritance between his second wife, Isabella Salviati (sister of mathematician Francesco Salviati) and his brother, Giovanni Federico Cesi.

Literature: EDIT 16 CNCE 27349.