Cherebizzi. Ne'quali si Contengono Varij, & Ingeniosi Discorsi, & Fantastiche Fantasie Filosofiche, Compresi in Piu Lettere Vulgari, nella Lingua Antica Dechiarati (4 Volumes in 1)

Bound with: Supplimento della Piacevoli, Ingeniose Lettere [and] Il Rimanente [and] Il Residuo delle Lettere Facete, Amorose, e Piaceuoli. Each with its own title page. Small octavo. 86, [2] pp.; 65, [1], [2 (blank)]; 55, [1 (blank)]; 76 ff. (A-E8, F4, A-H8, I4, A-G8, A-I8, K4). Final quire of the first book (F4) was misfolded before sewing so each leaf is out of order, but all leaves are present. In 18th century pulled-pastepaper over boards, backed in calf; textblock edges red. Front board is detached but present; some wear to the spine as well as some early adhesive repairs; light foxing, but generally, the contents are quite clean. Small monogram label of book collector Albert A. Howard on the rear pastedown; more prominent bookplate of 19th century French collector Anatole de Montaiglon. Originally published in 1547-52, this is a posthumous edition of the Italian actor and dramatist's letters, ranging from real to fictitious. Luigi Rasi calls Calmo's collection of letters his most lasting work: "L'opera massima del Calmo, scrittore, è senza dubbio la raccolta delle lettere, che è prova manifesta del suo ingegno pronto e vivace" (p. 551). Rasi, Luigi. I Comici Italiani: Biografia, Bibliografia, Iconografia (Firenze, 1897).…