Catalogue Number 7 - Susanne Schulz-Falster

First edition, rare, of this famous satirical study of Venetian history and its
political system, which appears to have been attributed to a wide number of
historians and political authors, the most likely appear to be the Augsburg
scholar Marcus Welser (1558–1614) and Alfonso de la Cueva Bednar
(1572–1655).
In this well-argued treatise the myth of Venetian liberty and independence
is debunked. Instead it is argued that ‘La Serenissima’ was in fact always
a dominion of the Empire and that therefore the emperor always
retained his ancient rights. It also argued that Venice is all but free, the government
is composed of the nobles only, with scant reference to the rest of
the population. This critical publication was immediately banned by order
of the Venetian senate, put on the index, and all copies in circulation were
burnt (Libreria Vinciana 1013). Interestingly the author also appears to
have predicted the decline of Venice.
Sarpi, with his opposition to Rome and the papacy took the opposing
view in his Concilio di Trento.
The work was reprinted in 1677 in a French translation and with a commentary
by Amelot de la Houssaie, and again in 1687.
Cicogna 894; Lozzi 6133; Libreria Vinciana 1013; see Peignot, Dictionnaire des
ouvrages condamnés au feu, II, pp. 144–45.
Who’s Who of the Venetian Nobility
75 [VENICE.] Dizionario storico-portatile di tutte le Venete
Patrizie Famiglie; così di quelle, che rimaser’ al serrar del Maggior
Consiglio, come di tutte le alter, che a questo furono aggregate. In cui
si vede la loro origine, lo stato presente delle eistenti, e il tempo in cui
mancarano le estinte. Raccolto il tutto con la possible diligenza da’ più
accreditati Documenti. In Venezia, Gisueppe Bettinelli, 1780. £550
Square 8vo, pp. 168; woodcut title vignette; contemporary full mottled
sheep; spine gilt in compartments, gilt lettered spine label; head and tail
of spine chipped; with name ‘Bortolo Penolazzi’ in gilt letters on upper
board.
First edition, rare, of this handy guide to the Venetian nobility. All families
that because of their rank are eligible for the ‘Maggior Consiglio’ (the Highest
Council) are listed, with brief details of their history.
The richest families, or those with an illustrious ancestry, traditionally
had the right to be part of the ‘Maggior Consiglio’, forming a kind of hereditary
nobility. In 1297 the Serrata (closure) limited the right of access to
the Council to existing members and their descendants. This, in eVect created
an aristocratic republic, with a ruling class that was imbued with a
strong sense of duty.
Conveniently an initial index lists all the families included, with an additional
mark for those residing in Venice. Presumably this must have been a
most useful pocket guide to the important families of Venice.
Rare, RLIN and OCLC list just one copy, at Yale.
susanne schulz-falster rare books catalogue seven
76 [VERRI.] CUSTODI, Pietro. Notizie sulla Vita del Conte
Pietro Verri. . . Milano, dalla Società de’ Classici Italiani, 1843.£280
8vo, frontispiece portrait, pp. 64; some foxing, especially at beginning
and end; attractively bound in green crushed morocco, spine decorated
and lettered in gilt; sides with decorative gilt role; an attractive copy.
First separate edition of Custodi’s biography of the economist and enlightenment
philosopher Pietro Verri, also published as part of the Wfty volume
collection of principal Italian economists, edited by Custodi. Of particular
interest is the information on Verri’s publications, and on his collaboration
with Beccaria and other Wgures of the Milan enlightenment.
Custodi (1771–1842) not only published the comprehensive collection
of Italian economists Scrittori classici italiani di economia politica, but also
completed Verri’s unWnished Storia di Milano.
Einaudi 5884 (for collected edition).
The Founder of the History of Ideas
77 VICO, Giambattista. Cinque Libri di Giambattista Vico De’
Principj d’una Scienza d’intorno alla commune natura delle Nazioni.
In questa seconda impressione con più propria maniera condotti e di
molto accresciuti. Alla Santità di Clemente XII dedicati. In Napoli, a
spese di Felice Mosca, 1730. £8500
12mo, engraved frontispiece, pp. xii, 480, folding printed table bound
in; paper slightly browned and spotted, due to paper quality;
contemporary full vellum, spine lettered in manuscript; a good copy.
Second edition, very rare and mostly original, of Vico’s Scienza Nuova. Vico
was dissatisWed with the original version of the Scienza Nuova (1725), and
entirely rewrote it for this second edition, which is in eVect an entirely new