Cepio's Petri Mocenici imperatoris gesta

Cepio's Petri Mocenici imperatoris gesta
Bernhard Maler, Erhard Ratdolt, and Peter Löslein, 1477
CEPIO, Coriolanus (1425-93). Petri Mocenici imperatoris gesta. Venice: Bernhard Maler, Erhard Ratdolt, and Peter Löslein, 1477.

First edition of a first-hand account of the 1470-1 Levantine expedition against the Turks. The author, Coriolano Cippico, accompanied the future Doge Pietro Mocenigo at the battle of Scutari, and he describes ancient monuments and inscriptions as well as the capture of Smyrna, the Venetian protectorate of Cyprus, and Scutari. He takes great care in highlighting the Venetian victories under Mocenigo, in contrast to the earlier failure of Mocenigo's predecessor, Niccolo Canal, at Negroponte. This is probably the first appearance of the fine woodcut border surrounding the dedication; its slightly different placement in various copies indicates that it was printed separately from the type-page. HC 4849*; GW 6473; BMC V 244; BSB-Ink C-221; IGI 2684; Goff C-378; ISTC ic00378000.

Chancery quarto (200 x 143mm). 52 leaves (of 54, without first and last blanks). Woodcut border on first page, woodcut initials (occasional very light duststoiling). Modern navy morocco by Riviere, edges gilt (joints worn). Provenance: occasional marginalia (a little trimmed) – "Bartholomio Pigatera" (signature on reverse of final leaf) – acquired from Lucien Goldschmidt, 20 February 1957.