The Italian Manuscripts in the Library of Major J.R. Abbey.

Cloth, gilt cover-device 4to, 32 cm, xliv, 187 pp, 86 plates (incl. facs, 6 colour). 63 entries. From the blurb: "The Italian manuscripts in the library of Major J. R. Abbey are here catalogued for the first time. The majority of the manuscripts are of the fifteenth century, but they range in date from the early twelfth to the late sixteenth century. The collection is particularly strong in dated and securely localized manuscripts, and amongst the famous patrons for whom they were originally made are the Medici of Florence, the Visconti of Milan, the Aragonese Kings of Naples, King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, and Popes Sixtus IV, Leo X and Julius II. Works signed by or attributable to some of the most important humanistic scribes are included, such as Piero Strozzi, Nicolaus Riccius Spinosus, Sigismondo dei Sigismondi, Pierantonio Sallando, Gioacchino de Gigantibus, Bartolomeo Sanvito, Fernando Ruano and the newly identified 'Jo. Nicolai de Confluentia'. In the illumination are to be found equally interesting examples of regional styles. In some cases manuscripts can be attributed to documented artists such as Francesco d'Antonio del Cherico or Attavante. In others a number of works by the same unidentified artist can be grouped round the Abbey manuscript. The manuscripts are illustrated by one or more full-size black-and-white plates each, and there are also six colour plates." Some bubbling to cloth of front board, otherwise Near Very Good. In a price-clipped and mildly yellowed dustwrapper which is somewhat marked on its inner face.…