Colonna, Pianta sopra la passione di Christo, Bologna, Antonio Manuzio, 1557, later morocco, Syston Park-O'Brien copy

Colonna, Vittoria, Marchesa di Pescara. Pianto della marchesa di Pescara sopra la passione di Christo. Oratione della medesima sopra l'Ave Maria. Sermone di m. Benedetto Varchi recitato alla Croce il uenerdi santo. Meditatione d'un diuotiss. huomo sopra la passione di Christo. Capitolo della detta s. marchesa del trionfo di Christo. Bologna: Antonio Manuzio, 1557

"Extremely rare. Unknown to Brunet, and never seen by Renouard" (Syston Park catalogue). It seems to have been a reprint of a Paolo Manuzio edition from 1556 (UCLA 500). Antonio Manuzio (1511-1559) was the second son of Aldo and Maria Torresano. He was exiled from Venice twice, for the second time in around 1552. This is one of perhaps eight books (according to Edit16) that he printed in Bologna in 1556-1557. This is the only copy to appear at auction in at least 50 years according to Rare Book Hub.

8vo (146 x 93 mm). Roman type, 35 lines. collation: A-C⁸ D⁴: 28 leaves. (Title browned and with a few stains, small wormhole on B2-3 costing a few letters, bookplate? removed from lower margin of last leaf.)

binding: Nineteenth-century green hard-grained morocco gilt by Charles Smith (151 x 99 mm), Aldine anchor at center of each side, all edges gilt.

provenance: Ferdinando Belvisi, of Bologna (armorial bookplate pasted to verso of title-page) — Sir John Hayford Thorold, Syston Park (bookplate, sale, 12 December 1884, lot 1491, £2-12s, to James Rimell) — William O'Brien, The Milltown Park Charitable Trust (bequest bookplate dated 1899, his price £2-12-6 written in pencil, sale, Replica Shoes ’s London, 7 June 2017, lot 108). acquisition: Purchased at preceding sale via Robin Halwas. references: UCLA 531; Edit16 12837; Renouard 170/2