Recent Acquisitions - Richard C. Ramer Old & Rare Books

12
richard c. ramer
12. AZEVEDO, José João da Silva. Explicações ácerca da Cithralia
e do partido que póde tirar-se d’este novo instrumento de cordas. Porto:
Typographia Commericial, June 30, 1867. Large 8°, original green printed
wrappers (spine starting to chip). Some musical notation in text. Light
browning. Title page and plate loose. Overall in good condition. 15 pp.,
engraved plate of the cithralia. $300.00
FIRST and ONLY EDITION. The author compares the cithralia to a guitar and a
viola, describing the size and structure of the instrument and the strings, the tuning,
and the proper use of right and left hands while playing. In the engraved plate of the
cithralia featured in the “Explicações,” the instrument appears to have 14 strings in 7
courses and a rounded back. It is very similar to a cittern in shape, but the cithralia has
a standing base that appears to be unique.
j Lambertini, Bibliophilie musicale 489. Author not in Innocêncio. Not in [Vasconcelos]
Catalogue des livres rares composant la bibliothèque musicale. Not located in NUC.
OCLC: 68693102 (Universiteit Utrecht). Not located in Porbase. Not located in Copac.
Not located in KVK (44 databases searched).
Seven Works Bound Together, Some of Considerable Rarity:
D. Inez de Castro, P. Antonio Vieira, an Auto-da-fé Sermon,
How to Identify the Anti-Christ, and More
13. AZEVEDO, Manoel de, pseud. [i.e. Maria de Lara e Menezes].
Saudades de D. Ignez de Castro. Pelo licenciado Manoel de Azevedo Conimbricensi.
Offerecida ao Senhor Guilherme Joaquim Paes Velho pelo Padre João de
Gouvea, Prisbitero do habito de S. Pedro. 7 works in 1 volume. Lisbon: Na
Officina de Domingos Rodrigues, 1749. 4°, nineteenth-century tree sheep
(some wear, especially to corners), flat spine gilt with red leather lettering
piece, gilt letter and initials “M.V.D.” near foot, marbled endleaves.
Small typographical vignette on title page. Woodcut headpieces, initial,
and factotum initials. Browning. Overall in good condition. Eight-line
nineteenth-century ink manuscript note on verso of second front free
endleaf, commenting on the authorship of D. Maria de Lara e Menezes
and the cost of the work. (4 ll.), 100 pp. 7 works in 1 volume $1,600.00
These poems probably appeared in print for the first time in 1716, under the title
“Sentimentos de D. Pedro e de D. Ignes de Castro,” in volume I of the Fenix renascida.
Their author, D. Maria de Lara e Menezes (1610-1649), daughter of the Duque de Caminha,
was the wife of D. Duarte de Bragança, brother of D. João IV.
The story of D. Inez de Castro has inspired poems, dramas, and operas. In 1340, the
beautiful D. Inez came to Portugal as lady-in-waiting to the Infanta of Spain, Constanza,
who was betrothed to D. Pedro, future king of Portugal. D. Pedro gave his hand to the
Infanta but his heart to D. Inez. After the Infanta died, D. Pedro and D. Inez were married
morganatically. But intrigues surrounded them: Portuguese nobles whispered that D.
Inez wanted to bring her own friends to Court, and even wanted to have her eldest son