Földvári Books

Late Renaissance Bookbinding

[Granting of Citizenship of the City of Spoleto.] Illustrissimo, et R.mo DD. Comiti Carolo Montecatino patritio Ferrariensi.

Spoleto: 1663. Manuscript on vellum. In very finely tooled, gilt, painted, red leather armorial binding. Spine and all edges are gilt. Marbled pastedowns. Written in golden and dark ink. Dated: 6 August 1663. Twelve lines, with a golden double line around the mirror and golden ruling. Title page with with three coat of arms and a large, gilt, floral initial. First leaf blind. (12) p. Tiny traces of rubbing at the extremities of the binding. Occasional light stains and spots on the leaves. A small wormhole at lower gutter throughout. Overall in fine condition.

A very fine and beautiful, late Renaissance Italian armorial binding.

The document, issued by the council of the city of Spoleto (Italy, Umbria), grants the citizenship for Carlo Montecatini (Carolo Montecatino), his family and descendants. Montecatini (1616–1699) was a Ferrarese nobleman, who studied law in Rome. He held various ecclesiastical positions in Ferrara and Rome and became elected governor of numerous cities (among them of Spoleto), and Archbishop of Chalcedon (Calcedonia).

The document is bound into contemporary, late Renaissance Italian binding in Arabic style. All compartments of the panels – divided with a geometric black border – are richly gilt with different patterns of scales and dots, or fine, decorative floral and geometric designs. The centerpiece on the front panel is the bishop’s coat of arms of Carlo Montecatini, on the rear panel, the coat of arms of Spoleto. Inner and board edges are gilt tooled with tiny geometric patterns, spine with floral ornaments. The oriental character of the binding reflects in the Turkish-marbled (ebru) pastedowns as well. The three illuminated coat of arms, adorning the head of the title page, are the escutcheons of Carlo Montecatini and the city of Spoleto on the left and right sides, and the small coat of arms of Pope Alexander VII in the middle. The document is signed by a secreter, and assumably, this served as the official copy of the document in the private archive of Montecatini.

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Price: €8,000.00