GIUSTINIANI, Agostino; [Columbus, Christopher]

Castigatissimi annali con la loro copiosa tavola della Eccelsa & Illustrissima Republica di Genoa [ ]

      Genoa: by Antonio Bellono for Laurentio Lomellino 1537 - SCARCE First Edition of important annals of Genoa through the period of its major importance as a Mediterranean maritime power. In Italian. BINDING, COLLATION, ETC: Folio (leaves measure 30 x 21 cm). Modern half-pigskin over beveled wooden boards with two clasps; sewn on three thick double cords, a part of original vellum backstrip with manuscript title preserved and laid down on spine of new binding. Foliated in roman numerals: [14], CCLXXXII leaves (forming 592 pages). Signature collation: Aa4 Bb6 Cc4 a-z8 A-L8 M6 N4. COMPLETE. Title-page printed in red and black with large woodcut coat of arms of Genoa supported by two angels; woodcut of Saint George slaying the dragon on verso of title. Large woodcut decorative initials. Preliminaries include the Dedicatory Epistle by the author addressed "to the Duke, the Senate, and the entire people of Genoa", a Preface (Prohemio), and Index (Tabula Alphabetica). Colophon on leaf N4r (verso blank). CONDITION: Very Good antiquarian condition. Smal ink nscription in an early hand and two small old stamps (probably of ecclesiastical or monastic libraries) to bottom of title, of the stamps repeated on blank verso of the final leaf. Light abraision with a tiny hole to bottom of title-page (resulting from an attempt to erase one of stamps). Some leaves slightly browned. Otherwise a very clean bright, wide-margined copy. ADDITIONAL NOTES: On leaf ccxlix (recto), under the year 1493, appears "an interesting account of Columbus [referred to as "Christoforo Colombo Genoese inventore della navigatio[n]e al mo[n]do novo"], and a mention of the bequest supposed to have been made by the Admiral 'all'ufficio di S. Georgio la decima parte,' of what he owned, for the erection of an hospital, we believe [.]" (Harrisse, Bibliotheca americana vetustissima, 220). The title-page of this elegant Genovese edition is embellished with large woodcut coat of arms of Genova in red and black, and with large finely executed woodcut depicting St. Georges slaying the dragon on verso (Sander 3191). REFERENCES: Adams G 751; Sabin 27518; Alden 537/11; Harisse 220; STC Italian p. 306; Sander 3191. [Attributes: First Edition; Hard Cover]