Beschreibung:

FRANCO, Giacomo. [ Raccolta di Essemplari di piu famosi Scrittori. ?Venice: circa 1594.] Oblong 4° in 8s (170 x 245mm.). 45 leaves; 1f. engraved arms of Grimani, 2pp. letterpress dedication to Doge Marino Grimani with woodcut initial and headpiece, 2pp. 'A i Lettori' followed by a recipe for ink with woodcut initial and headpiece, 42 engraved plates after Ludovico Curione, Bartolomeo Sopranini, Fabio Tosta, Il Camerino (i.e. Marcello Scalzini), Simone Verovio and Franco, 1 additional plate inserted at end signed [?Valerio] Spada 1663 (plate numbered 15 with neatly repaired tear, occasional ink or water stain). Contemporary limp vellum, the upper cover with contemporary manuscript diagram and inscription (ties lacking). Provenance : Nicolo Manassi (presentation inscription dated ?1594). A FINE ASSOCIATION COPY: Nicolo Manassi had become the proprietor of the Aldine Press in circa 1585 and is one of the four dedicatees to appear on Franco's plate 26. A copy with identical make-up is described by Bonacini as a different issue of Franco's Libro Secondo (Venice: 1596), itself a revised edition of the Franco modo di scrivere (Venice, 1595). Cf. Bonacini 637.