GALILEO – VILLIFRANCHI, Giovanni (d. 1614). Descrizzione della barriera, e della mascherata, fatte in Firenze a’ XVII. et a’ XIX. di Febbraio 1612 al serenissimo signor Prencipe d’Urbino. Florence: Bartolomeo Sermartelli and brothers, 1613.

Scarce first edition account of a Medici court masque heralding the discoveries of Galileo. The carnival of 1612 included the performance described here by Villifranchi, in which Galileo is celebrated for his "marvelous telescope" and Jupiter appears attended by his newly discovered satellites. Amid dazzling stage machinery and theatrical effects designed by court engineer Giulo Parigi, Jupiter and his four moons battle the embodiment of Sdegno Amoroso and his ferocious minions. Their appearance was announced with credit given to Galileo who discovered them, declaring that he "called them Medicee, and has dedicated the first to His Most Serene Highness, the second to Prince Don Francesco, the third to Prince Don Carlo, the fourth to Prince Don Lorenzo." After the battle (and an aria sung by Jupiter), the four moons transform into knights and have a joust with thunderbolts.

Unfortunately the "Medicean stars" fell out of favor as symbols of the illustrious family along with Galileo's fall from grace, aided by shifts in leadership and tastes at court; "Jupiter was unemployed” (Biagioli). The present publication also includes musical pieces (the notes as usual were printed separately on loose sheets) by O. Rinuccini, A. Adimari, G. Cicognini, A. Salvadori, and Villifranchi himself. Villifranchi, a poet and a priest from Volterra, was secretary to Virgilio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano. RBH records only one other copy at auction. BL 17th-c Italian p.972. See M. Biagioli, "Galileo the Emblem Maker," in Isis vol 81 (1990), pp 249-250.

Quarto (212 x 151mm). Woodcut printer's ornament on title and small woodcut initials (a little faint toning and spots). Contemporary vellum, title lettered in gilt on spine, blue edges. Provenance: Giovanni Domenico Berio, Marquis of Salza, d. 1791, and his son Francesco Maria, 1765-1829 (engraved bookplate on front pastedown) – William Humble Ward, Earl of Dudley, 1867-1932 (bookplate on rear pastedown).