Niccolo Machiavelli. TUTTE LE OPERE DI NICOLO MACHIAVELLI CITTADINO ET SECRETARIO FIORENTINO, DIVISE IN V. PARTI, ET DI NUOVO CON SOMMA ACCURATEZZA RISTAMPATE. [Geneva]: stated 1550 [i.e. 17th century]. 5 parts in one volume. "Testina" ed. Leather boards, with gilt lettering and designs and raised bands on spine, marbled paste-downs, all edges multi-colored speckled. 4to; [4] 8, 351, [1]; [4], 116; 14, 304; 168; 170. Italic type; text in Italian. With woodcut "testina," figures, and double-page illustration.

8 1/4 x 6 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a Florentine political philosopher, historian, and writer with a significant influence on subsequent politicians and philosophers. His best known work, The Prince was published in 1532. His works were included in The Index beginning in the mid-16th century, making it forbidden for Catholics to print his works or read them. As a result, during the 17th century, editions in Italian were often printed in Switzerland and provided with a false date. The "Testina Editions," named after the "testina," or head, of Machiavelli included on the title page, are a well-known example of this with four of them printed in Geneva in the 1600s.

Boards with edgewear, including small leather losses, dents to back cover, and cracking at joints; bookplate to front paste-down, cracking at hinges; pages toned, with foxing and occasional small mark or stain. An overall clean and sturdy volume.