Bembo Pietro. Prose Di.. Nelle Qvali Si Ragiona Della Volgar Lingva.. In Vinegia, 1525

Bembo Pietro (1470-1547). Prose di . M. Pietro Bembo nelle qvali si ragiona della volgar lingva scritte al Cardinale De Medici che poi e stato creato a Sommo Pontefice et detto Papa Clemente Settimo divise in tre libri. In Vinegia, per Giouan Tacuino, nel mese di Settembre del 1525

First edition

Beautiful antique binding (early 17th century?) in full leather, spine with raised bands, and covers framed by blind-tooled fillets. A reinforcement at the lower margin (blank) of the title page, some scattered stains, and a small weakness at the lower corner of the final leaves. Nonetheless, a genuine and particularly wide-margined copy, well preserved. First edition of this highly significant work concerning the use of the Italian language, in which Pietro Bembo aims to establish a common literary language with the same dignity and elegance as Latin. Presented in the form of a narrative, this chronological fiction serves to assert the primacy of the grammar outlined in the third book over the grammatical rules of the vernacular language published by Giovan Francesco Fortunio in 1516.

96 pages, with the last one blank. 4° (12,01x8,27in).

Private collection

Some spotting, general wear, bumped.