Benedetto Varchi. I SONETTI DI M. BENEDETTO VARCHI, NOVELLAMENTE MESSI IN LUCE. Venice: per Plinio Pietrasanta, 1555. First Venetian edition (published first in Florence the same year without the eclogues). Full vellum, yapp edges, morocco label with gilt on spine. 8vo; p4 A-X8; [8], 302, [34]pp. (final 2 leaves blank). Italic type; text in Italian. With dedication by Giorgio Benzone. With woodcut printer's device, initials, and head-pieces. Edit16 34717; USTC 862022.

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

Benedetto Varchi (Italy, 1503-1565) was an author, poet, and humanist, who spent a large part of his career working for the Medici family. His significance in early 16th- century Italy is evident in his portrait painted by the famous Venetian artist, Titian.

Typical mild discoloration to vellum, some marks to back cover, spine with manuscript at head, sticker at tail, label with small chip; later manuscript on free endpaper; pages crisp with very light toning and foxing, occasional light grime, and corner damp staining, title page with small repair; a very good copy in solid binding of this rare edition; WorldCat lists 9 library copies at time of review.