Baraldi - Nascita di Lodovico Ariosto - 1802

THE BIRTH OF LODOVICO ARIOSTO. FERRARA EDITION OF 1802 WITH ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE
Rare and pleasant Ferrara edition of the commemorative poem composed by Abbot Michele Baraldi in honor of Ludovico Ariosto. The work, printed in Ferrara in 1802, stands out for its engraved title page with Ariosto's portrait within a medallion, an iconographic element that increases the collectible interest of the copy. The little volume reflects the literary and civil taste of early 19th-century Italy, at the height of renewed veneration for the poet of Orlando Furioso. Copy in elegant contemporary binding in decorated cardboard, with a brown leather-spined cover and gilded ornaments. A typical testament to Ferrara culture and Ariostean fortune in the neoclassical era.

WHY TO BUY
FERRARA EDITION - Printed in the city of Ariosto, it preserves a strong historical and identitary value tied to the Este literary tradition.
ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE - The engraved portrait on the title page makes the copy more attractive and distinctive compared to a simple poetic pamphlet.
TESTIMONY OF ARIOSTO’S CULT - The volume documents Ariosto’s celebratory reception at the beginning of the 19th century, in a context of renewed study and memory of letters.
The period binding with a leather spine and gilded tooling gives material appeal and bibliographic interest.

MARKET VALUE
For a complete copy, with contemporary binding, engraved title page present, and overall good conditions as in the present case, the market value can tentatively fall in the €200-400 range, with possibilities of higher results if the copy shows particular freshness or relevant provenance.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Contemporary binding in decorated cardboard with blue motifs on a light background, with a smooth brown leather spine adorned with small gilded ornaments; edges trimmed. Typographic title page engraved with a portrait of Ludovico Ariosto within a medallion. Internally, pages showing normal browning and some foxing. Some ancient handwriting marks or cataloging marks on the initial and final pages. Binding with normal signs of wear and small marks on the spine and corners, but well preserved and pleasant. In old books, with a history spanning centuries, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp.: (2); 64; (2).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
La nascita di Lodovico Ariosto.
Ferrara 1802. Presso i Soci Bianchi, e Negri, Stamp. del Seminario.
Michele Baraldi.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
This poem belongs to that celebratory strand which, from the late 18th to the early 19th century, helped consolidate the civil and literary myth of Ludovico Ariosto. The work is not only a poetic homage but also a manifestation of Ferrara’s cultural prestige, a city that continued to identify with its most famous poet. The text, arranged in verses and accompanied at the end by notes, fits the neoclassical taste of the time, with attention to moral elevation, historical memory, and the civil function of literature. The edition is thus significant not only for its poetic content but also as a document of Ariostean fortune in the post-Enlightenment and Napoleonic era.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Michele Baraldi, Ferrarese ecclesiastic and man of letters, was an active author between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Connected to the cultured milieu of his city, he cultivated poetic, moral, and civic interests, participating in that provincial erudite tradition that made the celebration of great Italian authors one of its preferred themes. His production reflects the taste of the neoclassical age, with orderly, encomiastic prose and a commitment to literary dignity.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
The 1802 edition appears to be the original form of publication of the poem, printed in Ferrara at the Soci Bianchi e Negri, printers of the Seminary. Like many ceremonial or civilly commemorative pamphlets of the era, it likely circulated within a relatively confined circle, especially locally or regionally, addressing educated readers, poetry enthusiasts, and members of the administrative and intellectual elite. The presence of final notes and a figured title page indicates a higher editorial care than that of a mere ephemeral piece.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
OPAC SBN; ICCU; WorldCat; catalogs of Ferrara libraries; Ariostean repertoires; general catalogs of Italian literature between the 18th and 19th centuries.