Jacob Sannazaro, 1569

SANNAZARO, Jacob (1458-1530). Opera omnia. Lyons: Anton Gryphius, 1569.

Works of the humanist poet, a charming portable edition in a contemporary binding. Sannazaro's pastoral romance, Arcadia, had a major influence on later writers, including William Shakespeare and John Milton. This copy, in a blindstamped pigskin binding, found its way to a series of German readers. Not in Adams, but matches collation of later Gryphius edition.

16mo (118 x 76mm). Woodcut device on title, initials (repairs to lower margin of a few leaves, occasionally touching letters; toned, dampstaining around edges). Contemporary stamped pigskin with panel on Fides and Spes on upper cover and Caritas and a beggar on the lower cover (a bit worn, one front flyleaf detached). Provenance: note on the life of Sannazaro by Heinrich Rantzau copied on pastedown, a long German note in another hand on the flyleaf, some later pencil underlining – Sigmundt von Berga (inscription on read flyleaf) – Gideon ab [Ublerodt?], 1667 (inscription on title).