Della difesa della Commedia di Dante distinta in sette libri Nella quale si risponde alle oppositioni fatte al discorso di M. Iacopo Mazzoni, e si tratta pienamente dell’Arte Poetica, e di molte altre cose pertenenti alla Filosofia, & alle belle lettere.

Two volumes in small 4° (207 x 145 mm). Collation: A⁴, a-q⁴, r⁶, s², A-Z⁴, Aa-Zz⁴, Aaa-Zzz⁴, Aaaa-Zzzz⁴, Aaaaa-Zzzzz⁴, Aaaaaa-Ssssss⁴; a-e⁴, f⁶, g⁴, h⁶, A-Z⁴, Aa-Zz⁴, Aaa-Zzz⁴, Aaaa-Ffff⁴, Gggg². [8], 142, [2], 1063 leaves; xxxxxxx, 604 leaves. Roman, italic and Greek type. In the first volume seven folded plates with schemes, two woodcuts in text (fols. Xxx2v and Eeeee2v); in the second volume three folded plates with schemes, one woodcut diagram. Woodcut decorated initials and head- and tailpieces. Contemporary vellum over pasteboards. Spine with five raised bands; inked title and volume numbering, and the early shelfmarks ‘S.I.20' and ‘S.I.21'. Edges speckled red. Lower cover of the first volume somewhat stained. A fine copy, light spotting and foxing, some leaves uniformly browned (heavier in the second volume). In the first volume pale waterstain in the outer blank margin of the first leaves, more evident in the last leaf; a short tear to the outer blank margin of fol. Mmmmm4, without any loss.

Provenance: from the library of the monastery Santa Maria di Gesù in Montefortino, in the Marche (in each title-page ownership inscription 'Est Con. ^tus S.^t Marie de Jesu Montisfortini 1704'); later stamp 'P.I.P.D.R [?] C.G.'; Livio Ambrogio collection.

The first complete edition of this work by the philosopher Iacopo Mazzoni (1548- 1598), a wide and sophisticated apology of Dante and his poem.