[ITALIAN LITERATURE] FONTANA, Carlo Giuseppe

Pallade Segretaria, o sia Prima Spedizione di Lettere Missive Scritte da Carlo Giuseppe Fontana, Academico Faticolo di Milano, ed Errante di Brescia

Parma: Alberto Pazzoni e Paolo Monti, 1696. First Edition. 12mo (16cm). Contemporary vellum over boards; inked spine title; [48], 406, [26]pp. Chafing and perforation to vellum along front joint (but holding strong); pencilled note to rear endpapers; text fresh, tight and clean; Very Good.

A manual of letter-writing, illustrated throughout with examples chosen from the author's apparently very large oeuvre. The examples are on a variety of subjects, mainly chosen to illustrate the changes in tone and style of address to be used in addressing correspondents of varying stations. Fontana was of a prominent family of Parma and apparently wrote most of these letters while a resident in the estate of his patron, Count Alessandro Sanvitale. Apparently rare; OCLC gives four locations, of which only one in the U.S. (Stanford). From the library of artists Ben and Bernarda Bryson Shahn, with estate bookplate inside front cover.

Price: $450.00

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