Rare. 1st and only edition. L'Eris D'Amore, Pietro Paolo Porro. Pontio, Milano

First and only edition of this rare discourse on love by the cavalier Pietro Paolo Porro. This copy from the Library of M. Guglielmo, sold by Sotheby and Wilkinson on the 18th of July, 1861.

The shelfmark "6334", at the bottom of the spine, relates to the book's position in Guglielmo's library and was catalogued in the Sotheby catalogue of the sale the same (Part the Second, page 681).

L'Eris D'Amore is laid-out as a dialogue between Vlassimo and Crisologo; in it they come to praise the women of the islands of Quito and Canaria for their beauty.

The title page has a large printer's mark of the Knights of St. Lazarus.

The book is dedicated to Charles Emmanuel of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont.

This copy does not have the index that was printed at the end.

About Pietro Paolo Porro -

The 1670 Ateneo dei Letterati Milanesi..., (Picenelli, pp. 468) includes this description of Porro (translated, condensed):

A man of valor. Son of Gabrio Porro, and a Duke of Savoy. This most virtuous Cavallere discovered a high talent, and being very well versed in various professions, he deserved the fame and glories of a talented writer.

Scarcity -

The Universal Short Title Catalogue records two copies, one in Milan and one in Rome (USTC 850936).

Worldcat adds two copies, OCLC 67289400; one at the Newberry Library and one in the Beinecke (Yale).

I believe the Fondation Barbier-Mueller may also have a copy, as they have one listed on their website.

References to the Work -

Censimento Nazionale delle Edizioni Italiane del XVI Secolo - 60744

OPAC SBN (Catalogo del Sevizio Bibliotecario Nationale) - RMLE023411

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 17.5 x 12.5 x 1.5 cm. Vellum binding. Spine with five raised bands; title in gilt on morocco in one compartment. All edges sprinkled.

Pages - viii, 220

Collation - *4, A-Z4, Aa-Dd4, Ee2 (this copy missing the index, leaves signed Ee3-Ff3, and a blank Ff4)

Condition -

See pictures. Binding with some soiling. Library number (Guglielmo Libri) at bottom of spine in an old hand. Spine a little darkened. Possible remnants of a small ticket at top of front board. A number of bookseller notes on pastedown and flyleaf. Title page with some thumbing; also, sprinkling of top-edge got onto the top margin of the leaf. Occasional intrusion of sprinkled edge throughout into margins. Small page edge chips occasionally repaired. A little toning near edges, occasional fox spot. Small chip at bottom of 17. 191 to rear leaves repaired at edges with tissue. 216-220 repair covered text and the text was written back in on top of the repair; this repair was present in the 1861 Sotheby auction catalogue. Missing the index, pages with signatures Ee3-Ff3 and blank Ff4.