Il Philocolo.

Venice: per Nicolo di Aristotile detto Zoppino,, 1530. An early edition of the first adventure novel of Italian literature in vernacular prose. Written by the author during his student years in Naples, this was Boccaccio's first important work, a retelling of the popular medieval French romance of Floire and Blancheflor. "Boccaccio demonstrated a vast knowledge of literature, classical and medieval, and a personal engagement with it, giving a strong indication of literary promise and of the masterpieces to come... Boccaccio enlarges and ornaments the story with Florio's travels throughout Italy and the Mediterranean, adding digressions, geographical, historical, and mythological, at each stop and each new encounter; he weaves into the story autobiographical allegories, exotic places, and even a lesson in church history and doctrine" (Weaver, p. 87). The Filocolo was published in 1472. This is one of two Venetian editions printed in 1530, the other by Francesco di Alessandro Bindoni, both reproducing the text as edited and published by Marco Guazzo in 1527. Octavo (150 x 115 mm): A-2Y , 360 leaves. Title page printed in red and black within elaborate woodcut border and incorporating woodcut portrait of the author, similar portrait of St Nicholas on verso of last leaf. Eighteenth-century mottled half sheep, smooth spine divided by ornate gilt rolls, light brown calf label, patterned paper-covered boards, edges black. Old library label on spine. Near-contemporary Latin and Greek ownership inscription on title page "Joannis Bonij... kai ton filon [in Greek characters] C:L:D:S:", indicating it belonged to one Giovanni Boni "and friends". Worming on spine and margins of a few initial and final leaves (affecting woodcut decoration and several words), corners worn, inner hinges cracked, title and final page partly detached from gutter, but firm, some loss to margins of final page, intermittent and mainly marginal foxing and toning, couple of gathering damp stained. A good copy. EDIT16 6283. Elissa Weaver, "A Lover's Tale and Auspicious Beginning (Filocolo)", in Victoria Kirkham, Michael Sherberg, & Janet Levarie Smarr, eds, Boccaccio. A Critical Guide to the Complete Works, 2013.