Pier Francesco Giambullari Accademico Fior. De’l Sito, Forma, & Misure, dello ‘Inferno’ di Dante.

8° (157 x 93 mm). Collation: A-K⁸, L⁴. 153, [15] pages. Italic and roman type. On the title-page fine woodcut printer's device, showing Noah's Arch, with as a motto a verse from the Paradiso'l'acqua ch'io prendo giamai non si corse' [Par., ii7]; a different printer's device, with on fol. L4v. Eight woodcuts, depicting the structure, position, and dimensions of Dante's Hell (fols. B1r, B3r, C4v, D6r, E6v, E8r, G6r, and K2v); three smaller woodcuts (fols. A8v, E7r, and I1r). Eighteenth-century brown calf; covers framed within double gilt fillet. Spine with five raised bands, underlined by gilt fillets; title and imprint in gold on red morocco lettering-piece. Edges speckled red. Board edges slightly rubbed, joints restored. A fine copy; a few slight spots at the lower blank margin, reinforced the gutter at the pastedowns. On the front flyleaf early shelfmark, inked in brown ink, '2 E.10.15'.

Provenance: from Duke of Devonshire's Library at Chatsworth (engraved ex-libris with the motto 'honi soit qui mal y pense' on the front pastedown, shelfmark on a paper label 'Bookcase 186 Shelf G'); Livio Ambrogio collection.

First edition of this work by Pierfrancesco Giambullari (1495-1555), one of the only two editions printed by Neri Dortelata. A striking evidence of the vogue for measuring and picturing the Hell, here presented in a copy with a distinguished provenance: the library assembled by the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth.