Murtola, Gaspare. Della Creatione Del Mondo: Poema Sacra. 1618. Published by Appresso Saluioni. Seven full-page illustrations. 24 missing pages (listed in condition detail). Written in Italian.
This second edition of the rare poem is written in octave rhyme, in sixteen cantos, which speaks of the creation of the cosmos; of the magnificent heavens above, the dark world that lies below, and the astrological symbols that bind us to our fate. This early work was based on scientific and occult topics of the author’s time, and has beautiful woodcuts throughout that add a visual element to this esoteric work. No copies of this edition are listed on Worldcat.
The author Gaspare Murtola (1570-1625) was a known Italian poet, author, and writer of madrigals (a form of secular vocal music most typical of the Renaissance and early Baroque periods) [Wiki]. Murtola was also famously known for his feud with the often-scandalous Italian poet Giambattist Marino. This feud was originally started by Marino’s distaste of this book, and he proceeded to write a satirical work of it. This public feud was carried out with sonnets, invectives, and even came to pistol shots fired by Murtola that missed Marino, but struck his companion.
Bound in full contemporary vellum with a faded handwritten title on the spine, very faded writing to the fore-edge, 7 full page woodcuts (1 being the title page), beautiful drop caps and friezes throughout.
The condition is Good. The biggest flaw is the 24 missing pages (29, 30, 105, 106, 155, 156, 157, 158, 217, 218, 263, 264, 315, 316, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 355, 356, 357, 358). There is minor staining and foxing throughout, the title page has been rebacked in a repair but is original (not affecting text or imagery), the top corners of the first handful of pages have been repaired,and there is restoration work that consists of new endpapers. The binding is wrinkled, and has heavy shelf wear causing some small holes and tears to the spine and one on the rear bottom board. The rear board also has restoration to the fore-edge. Overall, a nice copy of this rarely seen book.
