Giovanni Diodati, trans. LA BIBBIA. CIOÈ, I LIBRI DEL VECCHIO, E DEL NUOUO TESTAMENTO. NUOUAMENTE TRASLATATI IN LINGUA ITALIANA, DA GIOVANNI DIODATI, DI NATION LUCCHESE. [Geneva]: 1607. Blind paneled vellum with ink manuscript title on spine. 4to; π2 A-B8 C-Z4 a-z4 aa-zz4 AA-ZZ4 AAA-MMM4 aA-yY4 zZ2 (zZ2 blank) aAa-zZz4 AaA-QqQ4 RrR2 (final blank); [4], 847, [1]; 178, [2]; 314, [2]pp. Woodcut device on title page, ornaments, decorated initials, printed marginalia. Roman type with italic, text in Italian. Darlow and Moule 5598.

10 3/8 x 7 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.

Diodati was a professor and preacher, born into an Italian family exiled in Switzerland. While Diodati's translation of the Bible followed Brucioli's, his work is considered the first Italian Protestant translation, and like his predecessor, it was based on original Greek and Hebrew texts. According to Darlow and Moule, Diodati's 1607 edition "remains the official Bible of Italian Protestants." (V.2, pt.2, p. 811)

Later vellum boards with discoloration and darkening, occasional chip and corners rubbed, small corner repair, lacking ties; some wear and cracking at spine with earlier vellum, cloth at joints exposed, some separation from textblock, with binding still very sturdy; pages toned, with foxing, and occasional small stain, wormhole, manuscript/underlining, corner damp stain, or loss or closed tear at margin or corner not impacting text; several leaves frayed, several re-margined or with small repairs, including title page, (2) leaves with ink manuscript including final blank, final blank worn with losses and manuscript. A good overall copy despite repairs of this Italian translation.