Opera. [Praemissa editionis, maxime a M. Ferno.]

302 fol. (2 leaves missing). First edition of the works of Giovanni Antonio Campano. A churchman, humanist, and orator, Campano was active as a teacher of rhetoric and an advocate before becoming Bishop of Crotone in 1463 and serving as papal governor of Todi in 1472-1474. His extensive writings include treatises, orations, letters, epitaphs and epigrams, a life of Pope Pius II, and a long biography of Braccio Fortebracci, a condottiere and count of Montone. Campano's friend, Michele Ferno, who edited this volume of his works, provides a life of its author and copious introductory texts and editorial comments. Eucharius Silber, originally from Würzburg, Germany, printed in Rome from 1480 into the early sixteenth century. His edition of Campano's works contains two woodcut illustrations: on the title page a large bell with xylographic inscriptions - a play on the author's name (campana = bell) - and a large woodcut on leaf F4, each containing the device HAE (Eucharius Argenteus Herbipolensis). Dibdin, writing about the Spencer copy of this edition, notes that it is 'one of the most provokingly capricious volumes, in respect to signatures, ever printed.' Printed in Roman type, with the exception of three pages which are in Gothic type. Only one early marginal note, though numerous leaves feature faint ink underlining within the text. A few minor rust spots. In a modern full vellum binding over three raised bands. A very nice, clean copy of this rare, early imprint. Two earlier unidentified stamps on the first leaf. HC 4286 = HC(Add) 4287; BMC IV 117; GW 5939; BSB-Ink C-63; Bod-inc C-036; IGI 2383; CIBN C-36; Goff C-73; ISTC ic00073000; CIH 886. Apponyi 2514.…