Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
La Commedia. Commentary by Christophorus Landinus (1424-1498) and edited by Piero da Figino (15th century). – ps-DANTE. Il Credo. Venice: Bernardinus Benalius and Matteo Capcasa (di Codeca), 3 March 1491.
Third illustrated edition, the first with a full cycle of illustrations. All early illustrations for the Divine Comedy derive from those made by Botticelli, 19 of whose designs were engraved for the 1481 Florentine edition. The woodcuts used here for the first time are now attributed to the Master of the Pico Pliny, an artist who illuminated printed books and manuscripts for notable, often noble, patrons. They were re-used or copied in subsequent editions. Not in the Bavarian State Library; [not H]CR 5949; GW 7969; BMC V, 373; Bod-inc D-015; Essling 531; Sander 2313; Goff D-32; ISTC id00032000.

Chancery folio (299 x 205mm). 302 leaves (g2.7, I8 and possibly a1 supplied from another copy). 4 full-page woodcuts (from 3 blocks) within full historiated border, 97 smaller woodcuts opening cantos, printer’s device at end, woodcut initials from several sets (occasional light stain or short tear, e4.5 repaired with some marginal notes in pen-and-ink, repairs in last quire affecting some text, small wormholes in first and final quires, woodcut of Lucifer on r6v censored with pale ink wash, washed). Modern blindstamped pigskin over wooden boards.

a few early annotations.

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