Lodovico Domenichi - La nobiltà delle donne [traité sur les femmes] - 1551

Second revised edition (the first was printed by Giolito in 1549) of this rare treatise praising women, published by the Italian humanist Lodovico Domenichi (1515-1564).

Born into a wealthy family, his father was a notary. Attracted by literature and the arts, he harbored a great admiration for Venice.
He was particularly interested in the printing press of Gabriel Giolito de Ferrari, one of the most important publishers of the time. He set up there to publish his first book in 1544.
His second book is the one we are presenting. It is a treatise on women. The author, in five dialogues between gentlemen, celebrates the excellence of feminine virtues. According to Zaccaria, Mazzucchelli, and many others, the work was written by Bruni, then stolen by Domenichi, who had received the antigraph, and published by the latter fraudulently under his own name.

Period binding, ivory vellum, ribbed spine, gilt pieces and fleurons. Edges tinted blue.
Beautiful typographic ornaments (engraved bands).

A fine copy, well-preserved binding, slight defects (darkened spine, signs of handling). Fresh interior, small angular water stain in the margin of the title, of the first 10 leaves approx. and of the last three leaves, without seriousness. Very good condition.

Lodovico Domenichi
The nobility of the donkey
Venice, appresso Gabriel Giolito De Ferrarii e fratelli, 1551
in-12 (16.5 x 10 cm); 275 ff.