Trattato Di Fabio Albergati Gentilhuomo Bolognese – Fabio Albergati

Full title: Trattato Di Fabio Albergati Gentilhuomo Bolognese. Del Modo Di Ridurre a Pace l’inimicitie Priuate. In questa Terza Impressione riueduto, & accresciuto di molte degne cose dal proprio Autore.

In Italian language. Published by Appresso Gio. Battista Bidelli, Milano, 1621. First thus. 7 x 4 ¾ in. Collation complete with 423 pp. Verified via WorldCat. (First printed in 1583 by a different printer and under a different full title.) Bound in 15th-century parchment manuscript, which is very tight. In very good overall condition. Lone ownership inscription neatly inked to upper, right of front endpaper. Negligible worming to rear pastedown. Worn deckled edges, to include some loss to lower right corner of the title page as well as a few other leaves. Several paging errors: reads 50, 53, 54, 51, 52, and 55 respectively; as well as 58, 61, 62, 59, 60, and 63. Later, 229, 270, 271, 232, 233, 274, 275, 236, 237, 278, 279, 240, 241 -269 respectively, and, again 270, and 271. About a dozen unopened signatures. A single, small worm hole instance spanning pp. 193 – 209. Text block mostly clean, though light damp staining throughout, unaffecting text. Occasional pages with some imperfections such as occasional foxing, a tiny tear, or other minor quirk that comes with a book this age and apparent use. Overall, an intriguing copy with lots of character.

Certainly, appealing to a collector of bindings and the history thereof. Supplies were comparatively limited during the first few centuries of book making, so an unexpected bonus of historical bookbinding is found in the use of older, discarded documentary material, often, even, fragments of medieval manuscripts. This copy is a good example. Discarded leaves of a 15th century parchment manuscript were used to cover this 1621 edition.

Albergati (1538 – August 15, 1606) was an Italian diplomat and writer, known for political theory and as a moralist. He was a proponent of mixed constitutions and an advocate of the fundamentals of Machiavellianism.

Very rare in commerce. Held by only 19 intuitions throughout the world. Unclear how many, if any, are bound in 15th-century parchment manuscript. May very well be a one-of-a-kind.