Dante Alighieri

Le Terze Rime di Dante [ FIRST ALDINE DANTE, AND THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE ALDINE ANCHOR DEVICE ]

      Aldo Manuzio [ Aldus ] 1502 - Venice, Aldo Manuzio, 1502. Octavo (165 mm. x 105 mm.), ff. 224, a-z8, A-G8, H4 (with the blank l2). Aldine dolphin and anchor device on the verso of the final printed leaf, H4. Italic type, cut by Francesco Griffo. 17th century Italian mottled calf, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Rubbed, head of spine chipped, lower joint restored, title page soiled, scattered staining (mostly marginal), lower margins a1 and a2 chipped and repaired, inner margins of the last few leaves repaired, lower margins of the last few leaves slightly cropped. Contemporary annotation at the head of the first leaf of text, later annotation at the foot of the first leaf of text. Overall a very good copy. In a folding archival box. The first edition of Dante printed by Aldus, in a new and highly influential text edited by Pietro Bembo, and the first appearance of the celebrated Aldine dolphin and anchor device. A celebrated landmark in the history of printing. Renouard 34.5. Gamba 385. Adams D-83.