PINELLI, Bartolomeo.

I Promessi Sposi. Rome, Litografia delle Belle Arti, 1829-1831.

Oblong folio, 10 lithographic plates (nos. 1-10, of 20), all dated (1830) and signed in the plate, with quotations from Manzoni’s work beneath; a few marginal spots, otherwise a very good set, bound in the original blue drab wrappers.

£850

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First edition of one of the earliest attempts to illustrate Manzoni’s masterpiece, by one of the most celebrated engravers of the time. Manzoni, however, apparently objected to Pinelli’s illustrations on the grounds that the figures and costumes were too ‘Roman’ and publication was halted after only 20 lithographs had been produced: ‘Si ignorano i motivi per cui la serie si interruppe e perchè l’incisore procedette con tanta ineguale suddivisione illustrativa: quindici tavole per i primi sette capitoli, cinque soltanto per i successivi tredici, che, drammaticamente, offrivano anche più pretesti d’immagine che non i primi’ (Cesana-Mascherpa, 1973, p. 30).

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First edition.

Bernard Quaritch Ltd

Rare books & manuscripts since 1847

PINELLI, Bartolomeo.

I Promessi Sposi. Rome, Litografia delle Belle Arti, 1829-1831.