VASARI, Giorgio (1512--1574)
[Vite dei più eccellenti architetti, pittori e scultori italiani. 1550]
Le vite de piv eccellenti architetti, pittori, et scvltori italiani, da Cimabve insino a' tempi nostri: descritte in lingua toscana, da Giorgio Vasari pittore aretino. Con vna sua vtile & necessaria introduzzione a le arti loro.
In Firenze (Place), [appresso Lorenzo Torrentino, impressor Ducale],, 1550.
3 pts in 2 vols ; 20.9 cm. (8º)
I-II: 552 p.
III: [2], 555--992, [44] p.

This is the first edition of Vasari's ground-breaking work, the first critical history of artistic style as well as a collection of artists' biographies. Part I and II are bound together with continuous register and pagination; volume II (i.e. Pt III) has a special title-page reading: La terza et vltima parte delle vite de gli architettori pittori et scvltori di Giorgio Vasari aretino. Imprint from colophon (vol. II): 'Stampato in Fiorenza appresso Lorenzo Torrentino impressor Dvcale del mese di Marzo l'anno M D L.' Titles printed within ornamental woodcut borders.

Copy Notes Both volumes with the engraved armorial bookplate of Sir Charles Frederick (1709--1785) signed 'G. Hains Delin. W.H. Toms Sculp. 1752'. The title-pages inscribed in ink Charles Frederick Rome Dec. 7: 1737. The antiquarian Charles Frederick, later Surveyor General of Ordnance, undertook a grand tour to Europe and the Near East in 1737--39. (See Ingamells, Dictionary of British and Irish travellers in Italy, 1701--1800 (1997), pp. 381-2.) The front free-endpapers inscribed on verso with initials MC (?) in a calligraphic flourish. Both volumes with extensive marginal annotations in red ink, in an Italian hand. The rear free-endpaper of vol. I is inscribed in pencil M/-- and 3 vols/ in 3.

Binding C18th Italian (?) mottled calf, gilt-tooled borders and spines, red leather spine-labels.

Reference Number 6526

Additional Names Frederick, Sir Charles (1709--1785)