Tasso - Goffredo... Gerusalemme Liberata - 1760
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Selected by Ilaria Colombo
Specialist in old books, specialising in theological disputes since 1999.
Estimate € 1,200 - € 2,000
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Description from the seller
FIERCE CLASHES BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: LADY AND KNIGHTS, LOVE AND DEATH
This Venetian edition of La Gerusalemme Liberata, printed by Antonio Groppo in the heart of the eighteenth century, transforms the poem into a total work of art: a book that combines typographic luxury, figurative theatricality, and narrative rigor. The 20 engraved plates by Novelli and Castello, conceived as true dramatic canvases, amplify the epic rhythm of the text and translate its culminating moments into a sequence of clear and solemn images. The red and black of the frontispiece, the ornate initials, and the internal decorative care place the work at the heart of the best Venetian production of the period, while the French inscriptions on the binding attest to its international circulation and the cultural prestige that Tasso continued to exert in the eighteenth century.
MARKET VALUE
The illustrated Venetian editions of La Gerusalemme Liberata, in particular those published by Antonio Groppo between 1760 and 1761, present a stable and selective market. Complete copies of the two volumes, with all the plates by Pietro Antonio Novelli and Bernardo Castello intact and well preserved, generally fetch values between €2,500 and €3,000; volumes bound in high-quality contemporary leather, especially with historical or prize inscriptions as in the present case, can reach €4,000 or slightly more, depending on the condition of the hinges and the freshness of the engravings.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Frontispiece engraved in the first volume; vignette engravings at the frontispieces; the frontispiece of the first volume printed in red and black. Rich decorative apparatus: initials, headpieces, tailpieces. Copper-engraved portrait of Torquato Tasso. Overall 20 copper-engraved plates signed by Pietro Antonio Novelli and Bernardo Castello. Paper with some foxing, browning. Ex libris removed. Contemporary vellum binding in marbled leather, with gilded borders on the covers and gilded inscriptions: on the front cover "Au nom du peuple français – prix d’emulation", on the back "Accorde par l'Adm.r Gen.l l'année X – distribué par le préfet de l'Eridan". Pp. (4); 12nn; 360; (2). (4); 36nn; 364; (4).
FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Il Goffredo, ovvero Gerusalemme Liberata.
Venezia, Antonio Groppo, 1760–1761.
Torquato Tasso.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
This edition is considered one of the most refined of the eighteenth century for the Tassian poem. It places La Gerusalemme Liberata in a fully eighteenth-century aesthetic context, where typographic beauty and figurative theatricality become an integral part of the reading experience. The illustrations by Novelli and Castello translate the poem into a sequence of complex narrative tableaux: an intertwining of classical architectures, heroic pathos, and late Baroque invention that dialogues with the Italian iconographic tradition and prepares the ground for the great nineteenth-century editions of the classics. Groppo conceives a book that is not only a reading instrument but also an object of representation, destined for a cultivated, refined audience attentive to artistic bibliography.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Torquato Tasso (1544–1595), born in Sorrento and active at Italian Renaissance courts, is one of the greatest poets of the Western tradition. La Gerusalemme Liberata, published in 1581, is a Christian heroic poem that combines crusader matter, psychological introspection, and moral tension, anticipating Baroque sensibilities and Romanticism. His literary and editorial prestige has generated, over the centuries, a very rich tradition of illustrated editions.
PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Antonio Groppo’s print run sits within the lively Venetian editorial tradition of the eighteenth century, characterized by great attention to the iconographic apparatus and typography quality. This edition, organized in two volumes, represents a culminating point among the illustrated editions of the poem: the importance of the cycle of engraved plates and the care for decorative elements have ensured stable circulation among Italian and French collectors, as also testified by the prize inscription in French on the binding.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
A. Mai, Bibliografia Tassiana, 270
Gamba, Serie dei Testi di Lingua, 948
Repertori delle edizioni illustrate del Settecento veneziano; catalogs dedicated to the works of Pietro Antonio Novelli and Bernardo Castello; historical bibliography on the editorial reception of La Gerusalemme Liberata.
Seller's Story
Luxury Books: Your Go-To Guide for Nabbing Literary Treasures!
Embarking on the thrilling journey of collecting rare and timeless printed works? Here's your snappy rundown, "The Collector's Cheat Sheet," to ensure you're not just flipping pages but stacking up the value:
1. Edition and Rarity: Rarity is the name of the game. First editions, limited printings, and books flaunting unique features like eye-catching illustrations or mind-blowing bindings? Consider them the VIPs of the collector's world.
2. Condition & Dimension: Picture this – a book in mint condition, untouched by the woes of wear and tear. Now, flip the script: wear, foxing, discoloration – they're the villains here. And don't forget to size up the dimensions, because a book's size matters in the collector's universe.
3. Authenticity: In a world of replicas and forgeries, verifying a book's authenticity is your superhero move. Expert examination and authentication – your trusty sidekicks in this quest.
4. Provenance: Who owned it before you? If the book has hobnobbed with famous figures or danced through historical events, its value skyrockets. Every book has a story, but some have blockbuster tales.
5. Demand and Market Trends: Think of book values as the stock market of the literary world. Stay savvy on collector trends and market shifts to ride the waves of value.
6. Subject Matter: Some topics are like fine wine – they get better with time. Dive into subjects with a timeless appeal or ride the wave of emerging cultural and historical relevance.
7. Binding and Design: Beauty is more than skin deep. Intricate bindings, stunning covers, and illustrations – these are the accessories that make a book runway-ready in the collector's eyes.
8. Association Copies: Books with a personal touch – whether it's a connection to the author or a famous personality – elevate the historical vibes. A book with a backstory? Count us in.
9. Investment Potential: Passion is the engine, but some collectors eye future returns. Keep in mind, though, that the book market can be as unpredictable as a plot twist.
10. Expert Advice: New to the game? Don't play solo. Seek wisdom from the book gurus, hit up book fairs, and join collector communities. We at Luxury Books are the Yodas of the rare book galaxy, helping you build collections that scream sophistication and cultural clout.
Because collecting rare books isn't just about dollar signs – it's a journey of preserving heritage and embracing literary treasures. Happy collecting!
Translated by Google TranslateFIERCE CLASHES BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: LADY AND KNIGHTS, LOVE AND DEATH
This Venetian edition of La Gerusalemme Liberata, printed by Antonio Groppo in the heart of the eighteenth century, transforms the poem into a total work of art: a book that combines typographic luxury, figurative theatricality, and narrative rigor. The 20 engraved plates by Novelli and Castello, conceived as true dramatic canvases, amplify the epic rhythm of the text and translate its culminating moments into a sequence of clear and solemn images. The red and black of the frontispiece, the ornate initials, and the internal decorative care place the work at the heart of the best Venetian production of the period, while the French inscriptions on the binding attest to its international circulation and the cultural prestige that Tasso continued to exert in the eighteenth century.
MARKET VALUE
The illustrated Venetian editions of La Gerusalemme Liberata, in particular those published by Antonio Groppo between 1760 and 1761, present a stable and selective market. Complete copies of the two volumes, with all the plates by Pietro Antonio Novelli and Bernardo Castello intact and well preserved, generally fetch values between €2,500 and €3,000; volumes bound in high-quality contemporary leather, especially with historical or prize inscriptions as in the present case, can reach €4,000 or slightly more, depending on the condition of the hinges and the freshness of the engravings.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Frontispiece engraved in the first volume; vignette engravings at the frontispieces; the frontispiece of the first volume printed in red and black. Rich decorative apparatus: initials, headpieces, tailpieces. Copper-engraved portrait of Torquato Tasso. Overall 20 copper-engraved plates signed by Pietro Antonio Novelli and Bernardo Castello. Paper with some foxing, browning. Ex libris removed. Contemporary vellum binding in marbled leather, with gilded borders on the covers and gilded inscriptions: on the front cover "Au nom du peuple français – prix d’emulation", on the back "Accorde par l'Adm.r Gen.l l'année X – distribué par le préfet de l'Eridan". Pp. (4); 12nn; 360; (2). (4); 36nn; 364; (4).
FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Il Goffredo, ovvero Gerusalemme Liberata.
Venezia, Antonio Groppo, 1760–1761.
Torquato Tasso.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
This edition is considered one of the most refined of the eighteenth century for the Tassian poem. It places La Gerusalemme Liberata in a fully eighteenth-century aesthetic context, where typographic beauty and figurative theatricality become an integral part of the reading experience. The illustrations by Novelli and Castello translate the poem into a sequence of complex narrative tableaux: an intertwining of classical architectures, heroic pathos, and late Baroque invention that dialogues with the Italian iconographic tradition and prepares the ground for the great nineteenth-century editions of the classics. Groppo conceives a book that is not only a reading instrument but also an object of representation, destined for a cultivated, refined audience attentive to artistic bibliography.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Torquato Tasso (1544–1595), born in Sorrento and active at Italian Renaissance courts, is one of the greatest poets of the Western tradition. La Gerusalemme Liberata, published in 1581, is a Christian heroic poem that combines crusader matter, psychological introspection, and moral tension, anticipating Baroque sensibilities and Romanticism. His literary and editorial prestige has generated, over the centuries, a very rich tradition of illustrated editions.
PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Antonio Groppo’s print run sits within the lively Venetian editorial tradition of the eighteenth century, characterized by great attention to the iconographic apparatus and typography quality. This edition, organized in two volumes, represents a culminating point among the illustrated editions of the poem: the importance of the cycle of engraved plates and the care for decorative elements have ensured stable circulation among Italian and French collectors, as also testified by the prize inscription in French on the binding.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
A. Mai, Bibliografia Tassiana, 270
Gamba, Serie dei Testi di Lingua, 948
Repertori delle edizioni illustrate del Settecento veneziano; catalogs dedicated to the works of Pietro Antonio Novelli and Bernardo Castello; historical bibliography on the editorial reception of La Gerusalemme Liberata.
Seller's Story
Luxury Books: Your Go-To Guide for Nabbing Literary Treasures!
Embarking on the thrilling journey of collecting rare and timeless printed works? Here's your snappy rundown, "The Collector's Cheat Sheet," to ensure you're not just flipping pages but stacking up the value:
1. Edition and Rarity: Rarity is the name of the game. First editions, limited printings, and books flaunting unique features like eye-catching illustrations or mind-blowing bindings? Consider them the VIPs of the collector's world.
2. Condition & Dimension: Picture this – a book in mint condition, untouched by the woes of wear and tear. Now, flip the script: wear, foxing, discoloration – they're the villains here. And don't forget to size up the dimensions, because a book's size matters in the collector's universe.
3. Authenticity: In a world of replicas and forgeries, verifying a book's authenticity is your superhero move. Expert examination and authentication – your trusty sidekicks in this quest.
4. Provenance: Who owned it before you? If the book has hobnobbed with famous figures or danced through historical events, its value skyrockets. Every book has a story, but some have blockbuster tales.
5. Demand and Market Trends: Think of book values as the stock market of the literary world. Stay savvy on collector trends and market shifts to ride the waves of value.
6. Subject Matter: Some topics are like fine wine – they get better with time. Dive into subjects with a timeless appeal or ride the wave of emerging cultural and historical relevance.
7. Binding and Design: Beauty is more than skin deep. Intricate bindings, stunning covers, and illustrations – these are the accessories that make a book runway-ready in the collector's eyes.
8. Association Copies: Books with a personal touch – whether it's a connection to the author or a famous personality – elevate the historical vibes. A book with a backstory? Count us in.
9. Investment Potential: Passion is the engine, but some collectors eye future returns. Keep in mind, though, that the book market can be as unpredictable as a plot twist.
10. Expert Advice: New to the game? Don't play solo. Seek wisdom from the book gurus, hit up book fairs, and join collector communities. We at Luxury Books are the Yodas of the rare book galaxy, helping you build collections that scream sophistication and cultural clout.
Because collecting rare books isn't just about dollar signs – it's a journey of preserving heritage and embracing literary treasures. Happy collecting!
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Number of books
2
Subject
Fine Bindings, Illustrated
Book title
Goffredo... Gerusalemme Liberata
Author/ Illustrator
Tasso
Condition
Good
Publication year oldest item
1760
Height
308 mm
Edition
1st Edition Thus, Illustrated Edition
Width
218 mm
Language
Italian
Original language
Yes
Publisher
Venezia, Antonio Groppo, 1760–1761
Binding/ Material
Leather
Extras
Tipped in plates
Number of pages
786
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