Pietro Bembo. EPISTOLARUM PETRI BEMBI, LEONIS DECIMI PONTIFICIS MAX. NOMINE SCRIPTARUM, LIB. XVI. Basel: per Ambrosium et Aurelium Froben, August 1566. Full blind decorated pigskin, raised bands and manuscript on spine. 8vo; a-z8 A-X8 (X7, X8 blank); 686, [14] [4 blank]pp. Roman type; text in Latin. With printer's device on title page and rear colophon, index, decorated initials. Adams B588; USTC 651735.

6 7/8 x 4 7/8 in.

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

Pietro Bembo (Italian, 1470-1547) was an important scholar and poet of the Italian Renaissance. His circle included Raphael, one of the most famous artists of the time. Bembo's portrait in the National Gallery, London, painted by the celebrated Venetian artist Titian, was painted after he became cardinal in the late 1530s.

This volume is a collection of hundreds of letters that Bembo wrote while serving in his role as secretary to Pope Leo X from 1513 until 1521. It includes letters to Raphael, important political leaders, and many others.

Boards with several cracks and small wormholes, discoloration mostly at lower board, edges darkened and worn, one corner rubbed, lacking clasps; (2) small stickers on paste-down, endpapers with residue and one modern slip with title tipped in; light to moderate toning throughout with occasional worming, scattered foxing and light grime, tiny edge stain; pages overall extremely clean, a very good copy.