Lodovico Ariosto ; Jerónimo de Urrea - Orlando furioso de M. Ludouico Ariosto - 1556

A fine, though incomplete, specimen of the early Castilian edition of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso printed in Lyon by Guillaume Rouillé in 1556.

A landmark of Renaissance epic poetry and one of the most influential books in European culture since its original publication in 1532, in Orlando Ludovico Ariosto renews the medieval tradition of chivalric tales, combining it with Greek and Roman classical literature and adapting it to Renaissance tastes in an extensive poem divided into 46 cantos in heroic couplets.

The first translation into Castilian, by Jerónimo de Urrea in 45 cantos, appeared for the first time in Antwerp in 1549. The success of this edition led to further printings throughout the 1550s in various Spanish and European cities; the present edition is one of the most sought-after, both for the prestige of its printer, Guillaume de Rouillé, and for the numerous and beautiful wood engravings that illustrate the text.

The offered copy, though generally in good condition, is incomplete: the cover and preliminaries (4 leaves in total), pages 39-40 and the last 2 leaves (end of the table) are missing. Pages 1-2 have been supplied by a manuscript leaf of excellent and careful calligraphy (perhaps 18th century), on period paper from the book; the upper outer corner of pages 369-370 and [37]-[38] of the second part are mutilated, supplied by grafts (some with the missing text written on them).

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Ariosto, Lodovico (1474-1533)

[Orlando furioso by M. Ludovico Ariosto] / [translated into romance castilian by Sir Hieronimo de Vrrea; with new arguments and allegories for each of the cantos, very useful; likewise added is a brief introduction to know and pronounce the Castilian language, with an explanation in the Toscan of all the difficult vocabulary contained in the present book, all made by Sir Alonso de Vlloa] — [A Lyon] : [at the house of Gulielmo Rouille], [1556]. — 529, [1], [80] p. : ill. ; 4.º.

Contains, with its own title page: Exposition of all the difficult places found in this book … — In Leon: at the house of Gulielmo Rouillio, 1556.

A multitude of wood engravings illustrating the text, as well as typographic ornaments and some initials also in wood.

Format: A-B⁸, C⁷, D-Z⁸, AA-II⁸, KK⁹; α-ε⁸ (modified: incomplete).

Copy lacking cover and preliminaries (quarto α); pages 1-2 supplied by manuscript leaf; missing p. 39-40 (leaf C⁴); upper outer corner of p. 369-370 mutilated, supplied by graft with the missing manuscript text; upper outer corner of p. [37]-[38] of the second part mutilated with loss of text, though supplied by graft; missing the last 2 leaves (3 final pages of the table).

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Binding in brown marbled leather, probably 18th century, with the plates framed by a gilded wheel. Spine gilded with five raised bands and a red leather title label. Edges also gilded with a wheel and endpapers of watercolored printed paper.

Apart from the missing leaves, generally good condition. The binding, though superficially worn and with the headcap partially loose, remains structurally solid, with tight sewing. Paper in good condition, with hardly any marginal notes and very sporadic soiling; some bindings of the second part with the paper quite browned.