Title: La Circe di Giovambattista Gelli Accademico Fiorentino, 1550
Author: Giovanni Battista Gelli
Publisher: Firenze
Condition: Very Good
A mid 16th century edition of Gelli’s La Circe, a literary work, consisting of a tale during the Odyssey, and a discussion between enchantress and goddess Circe, Ulysses, and eleven of his beast-transformed companions, who choose to remain animals despite the offer of being turned back to human. All except for one, a man who was once a philosopher, and did not want to give up his search for truth. While there is no publishing information, the ministerial census of the sixteenth century places this particular edition in Florence, in 1550, one year after the first edition. There are several woodcut initials.
Giovan Battista Gelli had a humble beginning as a shoemaker, a job he never left behind even as he became a man of letters, later becoming a member of the Florentine Academy, and writing numerous successful operettas.
One volume in 18mo, 96 leaves
This volume is in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding, namely to the board edges. There is some foxing and staining throughout.