Le Rime.

Venice: Ferd. Ongania Edit.,, 1879. The "fly's eye" miniature Petrarch First edition thus, first impression, number 281 of 1,000 copies only. This edition contains six sonnets that had recently been discovered by G. Veludo, the dedicatee. Ongania explains in his preface that this edition is uniform with Salmin's famous "fly's eye type" miniature Dante of the previous year, the success of which inspired him to produce the Petrarch. This copy is inscribed on the verso of the front free endpaper, "To P.M. with every good wish from V.J[?].S., 23 May 1914". P.M. is very likely Philip Morrell (1870-1943), husband of Ottoline Morrell, chatelaine of Garsington. The book was part of a lot offered for sale at Christie's South Kensington, 1 November 2006, Modern First Editions including Books from the Library of Lady Ottoline Morrell and Family. Miniature book, 2 vols in 1, tricesimo-secundo (54 x 35 mm). Portrait frontispiece and engravings throughout. Original panelled vellum, spine gilt in compartments, patterned endpapers, all edges gilt. Bookseller's ticket to recto of rear free endpaper. Binding lightly rubbed and toned. An excellent copy. Bondy, p. 96; Houghton 270; Mikrobiblion 189; Welsh 5665.