Conti, De venatione libri IIII, Venice, 1551, later calf

Conti, Natale. Natalis Comitum Veneti De venatione, libri IIII. Hieronymi Ruscelli scholiis breuissimis illustrati. Venice: sons of Aldo Manuzio, 1551

First edition. A poem about hunting, including the qualities to look for in dogs and horses.

8vo (148 x 98 mm). Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. collation: A-M⁴: 48 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device on title-page and final verso, woodcut initials. (Instances of dampstaining and foxing.)

binding: Later brown calf (152 x 105 mm), covers with multiple rules, fish scale pattern in central compartment, and border of vine and leaf pattern all in blind, spine with semi-raised bands in six compartments, second with git-lettered label, edges marbled, green silk marker. (Upper joint starting, some rubbing and chipping.)

acquisition: Purchased from Deighton Bell and Co., Cambridge, 1973. references: UCLA 405; Edit16 13162; Renouard 152/14