Material Evidence
in Incunabula

mei/02141186 17280 [02141186]

Manchester, University of Manchester, John Rylands Research Institute and Library (GB) : 17280

ISTC No.id00029000
AuthorDante Alighieri
TitleLa Commedia (Comm: Christophorus Landinus). Add: Marsilius Ficinus: Ad Dantem gratulatio [Latin & Italian]
ImprintFlorence : Nicolaus Laurentii, Alamanus, 30 Aug. 1481
Formatf°
Languageita
full ISTC record
SubjectLiterature
Keywordspoetry; commentary; collection
Periodmedieval

Description of Copy

Copy Id02141186
Holding InstitutionManchester, University of Manchester, John Rylands Research Institute and Library (GB)
Shelfmark17280
NoteCreated by Camilla Marangoni for the Polonsky project "Dante 1481", with data provided by Julianne Simpson (Manchester, John Rylands University Library).
Physical DescriptionContaining 20 engravings, the first two printed directly on the page and the following 17 printed on plates and pasted in (Category D of Hind's classification system). An additional illustration to Canto III is on leaf c2 recto.
Engraving mounted on blank leaf [pi]1 verso with image of Dante's Inferno in Tuscan Florentine style, dated 1460-1480 (circa); in the centre Lucifer torture several damned souls and in his claws holds seven kings, of whom four bear their titles; surrounded by damned souls being tortured by devils; inscribed in upper corner: QUESTO ELINFERNO DEL CHA[M]POSAN / TO DI PISA (see A.M. Hind, "Early Italian engraving", v. 1, London, 1938, p. 49 n.59). The additional illustration on leaf c2 and the Camposanto engraving were transferred from another copy, now at the Pierpont Morgan Library.
Size of leaves410 × mm
Copy Features - NoteIn this copy three letters are inserted regarding the provenance and historical sales of the volume, two of which are handwritten. The first is a reply to a letter of Oct. 29. 37, from A. M. Hind of the British Museum, and confirms that the volume was purchased by Lord Spencer in 1819-20. The second letter - to Henry Guppy, former librarian of The John Rylands Library, from A. M. Hind of the British Museum - is dated Dec. 30 1937, and discusses the confusion surrounding the present copy of the Commedia. This letter is attached to a second, dated Dec. 21 1937, written by Sd. Lucius Wilmerding, an American antiquarian and trustee of the New York Historical Society, in which Wilmerding discusses his own copy of the edition and suggests that errors may have been made in Dibdin's catalogue of Spencer's collection (see A.M. Hind, "Early Italian engraving", v. 1, London, 1938, pp. 106-107).
Support material (book)Paper
SourceT. F. Dibdin, "Bibliotheca Spenceriana; or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century and of many valuable first editions in the library of George John Earl Spencer, K. G.", W. Bulmer and co., London 1815, IV, pp. 114-115.
A. M. Hind, "Early Italian Engraving. A critical catalogue with complete reproduction of all the prints described", Kraus Reprint, Nendeln 1970, pp. 106-107.
“Commento sopra la «Commedia»”, edited by Paolo Procaccioli, Salerno, Rome 2014, p. 134.

Provenance 1481 - 1500

PlaceAvignon? (Geonames ID: 3035681)
Areae-fr
Time period1481 - 1500
Provenance nameAnonymous, 1481-1500 [Person; Illuminator] (Artist, Unknown)
Provenance TypeDecoration
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. [pi]2r
Image in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. aa3r
Image in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Red and blue initials, l. b1v
decorationNoteAt the beginning of the “Comento” and of each prologo and cantica, six French-style (Avignon?) illuminated initials in gold on blue and red ground, decorated with fine floral motifs in white (leaves [pi]2r, a2r, aa2r, aa3r, A2r, A3r), some f these were probably added later in the same style; numerous initials and paragraph marks painted alternately in red and blue.
hasIlluminationsbooleanyes
hasOrnamentalLettersbooleanyes
psourcea

provenance 1481 -

placenameFlorence (Geonames ID: 3176959)
areae-it
timeperiod1481 -
ownerPeruzzi, family of Florence, 1301 - (, )
provenanceType1
provenanceImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. a2r
Image in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. aa2r
Decoration NoteThe illuminated initials at the beginning of Inferno (a2r) and Purgatorio (aa2r) are decorated with three golden pears, an armorial symbol associated with the Florentine Peruzzi family. The checkered initials are illuminated in a French style, therefore the volume could have been owned by a member of the family that spent some time in France.
Coat of armsYes
SourceBook in hand

Provenance 1501 - 1600

Areae-it
Time period1501 - 1600
Provenance nameAnonimo [Person; Annotator]
Provenance TypeManuscript Notes
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Note, manicula, drawings, l. s3v
Manuscript notesOn leaf s3 verso, late sixteenth-century reading note, with manicula and underlining, which reads: "dante pazzo, et appasionato". Occasional corrections in a late sixteenth-century hand.
CorrectionsYes
CommentsYes
Reading marks (underlining and pointing hands)Yes
DrawingsYes
SourceBibliography

Provenance 1807 - 1834

PlaceAlthorp (Geonames ID: 7296694)
Areae-uk-en
Time period1807 - 1834
Provenance nameSpencer, George John, 2nd Earl Spencer, 1758-1834 [Person; Former Owner] (Male, Politician, Aristocracy)
Lewis, Charles, 1786 - 1836 [Person; Binder] (Male, Booktrade, No characterisation/lay)
Provenance TypeCoat of Arms
Motto
Binding
Bibliographic Evidence
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Binding, front cover
NoteThis copy has been confused by Dibdin (T. F. Dibdin, "Bibliotheca Spenceriana; or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century and of many valuable first editions in the library of George John Earl Spencer, K. G.", W. Bulmer and co., London 1815, IV, no. 814) and many other with the one that once belonged to Mr. Wilbraham, now at the Pierpont Morgan Library.
Method of acquisitionPurchase
Binding noteNinteenth-century purple goatskin binding by Charles Lewis; gilt-rolled board edges and turn-ins; spine, seven compartments gilt-rolled; direct-lettered in gilt in second, third and fourth compartment: DANTE / DA LANDINO / FIRENZE M. CCCC. LXXXI / CON FIGURE XX / DI BALDINI; front and rear boards stamped with Spencer arms (Stamp 15) and motto in gilt: "Honi soit qui mal y pense"; all edges gilt.
Binding date19th cent.
Binding typeBoards
Cover materialLeather
FurnitureYes
Binding statusRebound
TitlingTooled
ToolingGold
EdgesGilt
SourceBook in hand

Provenance 1835 - 1892

PlaceAlthorp (Geonames ID: 11670133)
Areae-uk
Time period1835 - 1892
Provenance nameSpencer, John Poyntz, 5th Earl Spencer, 1835-1910 [Person; Former Owner] (Male, Politician, Aristocracy)
Provenance TypeExlibris
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Label
NoteOval leather label on the verso of the first flyleaf: "E Bibliotheca Spenceriana".
Method of acquisitionBequest
SourceBook in hand

Provenance 1892 - 1892

PlaceManchester (Geonames ID: 2643123)
Areae-uk
Time period1892 - 1892
Provenance nameRylands, Enriqueta Augustina , 1843 – 1908 [Person; Donor] (Female)
Provenance TypeDocumentary Evidence
NoteThe volume was part of the Spencer library, which was acquired by Enriqueta Rylands from John Poyntz Spencer in 1892. This purchase was the core of the newly funded John Rylands Library.
Method of acquisitionPurchase
SourceBook in hand

Provenance 1892 -

PlaceDeansgate, Manchester (Geonames ID: 2643123)
Areae-uk
Time period1892 -
Provenance nameManchester, John Rylands University Library, 1900 [Corporate body; Present Owner] (Library, No characterisation/lay)
Guppy, Henry, 1861 - 1948 [Person; Librarian] (Male, Library, No characterisation/lay)
Provenance TypeBibliographic Evidence
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Guppy's note
NoteOn recto of the second flyleaf ink annotation in the Henry Guppy hand: "This copy was bought by Spencer between 1807 and 1815 / Beloe in his "Anecdotes" (1807) still refers to it as the Wilbraham / copy."
Method of acquisitionDonation
SourceBibliography

Other Information

completeness1
Last Edit2021-11-14 18:37:26

All Copies

  02141186

ManchesterJRL : 17280

hostItemIdid00029000
imprint : ,
fullistc

copy

copyId02141186
holdingInstitutionIdManchesterJRL
Shelfmark17280
NoteCreated by Camilla Marangoni for the Polonsky project "Dante 1481", with data provided by Julianne Simpson (Manchester, John Rylands University Library).
Physical DescriptionContaining 20 engravings, the first two printed directly on the page and the following 17 printed on plates and pasted in (Category D of Hind's classification system). An additional illustration to Canto III is on leaf c2 recto.
Engraving mounted on blank leaf [pi]1 verso with image of Dante's Inferno in Tuscan Florentine style, dated 1460-1480 (circa); in the centre Lucifer torture several damned souls and in his claws holds seven kings, of whom four bear their titles; surrounded by damned souls being tortured by devils; inscribed in upper corner: QUESTO ELINFERNO DEL CHA[M]POSAN / TO DI PISA (see A.M. Hind, "Early Italian engraving", v. 1, London, 1938, p. 49 n.59). The additional illustration on leaf c2 and the Camposanto engraving were transferred from another copy, now at the Pierpont Morgan Library.
Size of leaves410 × mm
Copy Features - NoteIn this copy three letters are inserted regarding the provenance and historical sales of the volume, two of which are handwritten. The first is a reply to a letter of Oct. 29. 37, from A. M. Hind of the British Museum, and confirms that the volume was purchased by Lord Spencer in 1819-20. The second letter - to Henry Guppy, former librarian of The John Rylands Library, from A. M. Hind of the British Museum - is dated Dec. 30 1937, and discusses the confusion surrounding the present copy of the Commedia. This letter is attached to a second, dated Dec. 21 1937, written by Sd. Lucius Wilmerding, an American antiquarian and trustee of the New York Historical Society, in which Wilmerding discusses his own copy of the edition and suggests that errors may have been made in Dibdin's catalogue of Spencer's collection (see A.M. Hind, "Early Italian engraving", v. 1, London, 1938, pp. 106-107).
Support material (book)Paper
SourceT. F. Dibdin, "Bibliotheca Spenceriana; or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century and of many valuable first editions in the library of George John Earl Spencer, K. G.", W. Bulmer and co., London 1815, IV, pp. 114-115.
A. M. Hind, "Early Italian Engraving. A critical catalogue with complete reproduction of all the prints described", Kraus Reprint, Nendeln 1970, pp. 106-107.
“Commento sopra la «Commedia»”, edited by Paolo Procaccioli, Salerno, Rome 2014, p. 134.

Provenance 1481 - 1500

PlaceAvignon? (Geonames ID: 3035681)
Areae-fr
Time period1481 - 1500
Provenance nameAnonymous, 1481-1500 [Person; Illuminator] (Artist, Unknown)
Provenance TypeDecoration
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. [pi]2r
Image in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. aa3r
Image in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Red and blue initials, l. b1v
Decoration NoteAt the beginning of the “Comento” and of each prologo and cantica, six French-style (Avignon?) illuminated initials in gold on blue and red ground, decorated with fine floral motifs in white (leaves [pi]2r, a2r, aa2r, aa3r, A2r, A3r), some f these were probably added later in the same style; numerous initials and paragraph marks painted alternately in red and blue.
IlluminationsYes
Ornamental lettersYes
SourceBook in hand

Provenance 1481 -

PlaceFlorence (Geonames ID: 3176959)
Areae-it
Time period1481 -
Provenance namePeruzzi, family of Florence, 1301 - [Former Owner] (Business, Aristocracy)
Provenance TypeDecoration
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. a2r
Image in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Initial, l. aa2r
Decoration NoteThe illuminated initials at the beginning of Inferno (a2r) and Purgatorio (aa2r) are decorated with three golden pears, an armorial symbol associated with the Florentine Peruzzi family. The checkered initials are illuminated in a French style, therefore the volume could have been owned by a member of the family that spent some time in France.
Coat of armsYes
SourceBook in hand

Provenance 1501 - 1600

Areae-it
Time period1501 - 1600
Provenance nameAnonimo [Person; Annotator]
Provenance TypeManuscript Notes
Link to Provenance ImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Note, manicula, drawings, l. s3v
Manuscript notesOn leaf s3 verso, late sixteenth-century reading note, with manicula and underlining, which reads: "dante pazzo, et appasionato". Occasional corrections in a late sixteenth-century hand.
CorrectionsYes
CommentsYes
Reading marks (underlining and pointing hands)Yes
DrawingsYes
SourceBibliography

Provenance 1807 - 1834

PlaceAlthorp (Geonames ID: 7296694)
areae-uk-en
timeperiod1807 - 1834
ownerSpencer, George John, 2nd Earl Spencer, 1758-1834 (, )
Lewis, Charles, 1786 - 1836 (, )
provenanceType1
1
1
1
provenanceImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Binding, front cover
noteThis copy has been confused by Dibdin (T. F. Dibdin, "Bibliotheca Spenceriana; or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century and of many valuable first editions in the library of George John Earl Spencer, K. G.", W. Bulmer and co., London 1815, IV, no. 814) and many other with the one that once belonged to Mr. Wilbraham, now at the Pierpont Morgan Library.
methodofacqa
bindingNoteNinteenth-century purple goatskin binding by Charles Lewis; gilt-rolled board edges and turn-ins; spine, seven compartments gilt-rolled; direct-lettered in gilt in second, third and fourth compartment: DANTE / DA LANDINO / FIRENZE M. CCCC. LXXXI / CON FIGURE XX / DI BALDINI; front and rear boards stamped with Spencer arms (Stamp 15) and motto in gilt: "Honi soit qui mal y pense"; all edges gilt.
bindingDatew
bindingTypec
coverMaterialb
furniture1
bindingStatusb
titling
toolingb
edgesa
psourcea

provenance 1835 - 1892

placenameAlthorp (Geonames ID: 11670133)
areae-uk
timeperiod1835 - 1892
ownerSpencer, John Poyntz, 5th Earl Spencer, 1835-1910 (, )
provenanceType1
provenanceImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Label
noteOval leather label on the verso of the first flyleaf: "E Bibliotheca Spenceriana".
methodofacqc
psourcea

provenance 1892 - 1892

placenameManchester (Geonames ID: 2643123)
areae-uk
timeperiod1892 - 1892
ownerRylands, Enriqueta Augustina , 1843 – 1908
provenanceType1
noteThe volume was part of the Spencer library, which was acquired by Enriqueta Rylands from John Poyntz Spencer in 1892. This purchase was the core of the newly funded John Rylands Library.
methodofacqa
psourcea

provenance 1892 -

placenameDeansgate, Manchester (Geonames ID: 2643123)
areae-uk
timeperiod1892 -
ownerManchester, John Rylands University Library, 1900 (, )
Guppy, Henry, 1861 - 1948 (, )
provenanceType1
provenanceImageImage in CERL Provenance Digital Archive Guppy's note
noteOn recto of the second flyleaf ink annotation in the Henry Guppy hand: "This copy was bought by Spencer between 1807 and 1815 / Beloe in his "Anecdotes" (1807) still refers to it as the Wilbraham / copy."
methodofacqb
psourceb

otherInformation

completeness1
Last Edit2021-11-14 18:37:26