Baraldi - Lodovico Ariosto - 1802

THE BIRTH OF LODOVICO ARIOSTO. FERRARA EDITION OF 1802 WITH ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE
A 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 title page engraved with a portrait of Ariosto within a medallion, an iconographic element that increases the collectible appeal of the copy. The booklet reflects the literary and civil taste of early 19th-century Italy, at the height of renewed veneration for the poet of Orlando Furioso. The volume in an elegant period binding in carton, with a brown leather spine and gold decorations. A typical testimony of Ferrara’s culture and the 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 plain poetic pamphlet.
TESTIMONY OF ARIOSTAN CULTURE - The volume documents Ariosto’s celebratory reception at the beginning of the 19th century, in a context of revival of studies and literary memories.
The period binding with a leather spine and gold tooling provides pleasant material allure and bibliographic interest.

MARKET VALUE
For a complete copy, with an accompanying period binding, an engraved title page and overall good condition as in this case, the market value can roughly fall within €200-400, with potential for higher results if the copy is exceptionally fresh or has a relevant provenance.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Period binding in decorated carton with blue motifs on a light ground, with a smooth brown leather spine adorned with small gold ornaments; edges trimmed. Typographic title page engraved with a portrait of Ludovico Ariosto within a medallion. Internally, pages show gradual browning and some staining. Some ancient handwriting marks or cataloging notes on the initial and final leaves. Binding shows normal wear and small marks on the spine and corners, but is well preserved and appealing. In old books, with a centuries-long history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp.: (2); 64; (2).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
The Birth of Lodovico Ariosto.
Ferrara 1802. At the Society Bianchi and Negri, Printing of the Seminary.
Michele Baraldi.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
This poem belongs to that celebratory line which, between the late 18th century and 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 display of Ferrara’s cultural prestige, a city that continued to recognize itself in the figure of its most famous poet. The text, structured in verse 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 thus gains significance not only for its poetic content, but also as a document of Ariostean fortune in the post-Enlightenment and Napoleonic eras.

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 pursued poetic, moral, and civil interests, participating in that provincial erudite tradition that made the celebration of the great Italian authors one of its favored themes. His work reflects the taste of the Neoclassical age, with orderly, encomiastic writing grounded in 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 Society Bianchi and Negri, printers of the Seminary. Like many occasional or civil-homage pamphlets of the era, it likely circulated within a relatively contained circle, largely local or regional, addressing educated readers, poetry lovers, and members of the administrative and intellectual elite. The presence of final notes and a decorative title page indicates an editorial care superior to that of a mere ephemeral composition.

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