Vitruvius Pollio (Marcus) De Architectura Libri Dece, translated by Bono Mauro da Bergamo and Benedetto Jovio da Comasio, commentary by Cesare Cesariano, first edition in Italian, large woodcut printer's device to title and smaller device to colophon, 117 fine woodcut illustrations including 10 full-page, woodcut historiated initials, several contemporary ink manuscript marginalia of pointing fingers or grotesques of birds, faces, bagpipes etc., cropped with a few pointers and headlines shaved, title lightly soiled, a few spots or small stains to text or margins, slight worming to lower margins, light water-staining at end, S5 torn and repaired, a few other minor marginal tears and repairs, old ink inscription "Dz Domco: Zaballi 1690" to front free endpaper, later vellum-backed boards, spine ruled in gilt with red morocco label, slightly rubbed, [Adams V914; Berlin Kat. 1802; EDIT 16 CNCE 49742; Fowler 395; Millard Italian 158; Mortimer Italian 544; cf.PMM 26], folio (c.370 x 260mm.), Como, Gottardo da Ponte, 15 July 1521.

⁂ The first vernacular edition of Vitruvius. Cesarino (1483-1543) was a pupil of Bramante and Leonardo and later became architect to the city of Milan. The illustrations, many of which are also by him, include plans and elevations of Milan cathedral, believed to be the first book illustrations of Gothic architecture.

"The Como edition of 1521 is the first in Italian...it has splendid new illustrations...and is the most beautiful of all the early editions". (PMM).