Private Library Catalogue of Incunables

Da Como, Ugo (collector). Baroncelli, Ugo (cataloguer)

[INCUNABULA REFERENCE]. Catalogo degli Incunabuli della Biblioteca Ugo da Como di Lonato. [Biblioteca di bibliografia italiana; XXV]

Florence: Leo S. Olschki Editore, 1953. First Edition. Small 4to. 172, [4] pp. With 15 full-page plates, including frontispiece portrait of Ugo da Como. Original printed wrappers (slightly dust-soiled), uncut and unopened. Very good. Item #3176

Catalogue of the incunabula in one of the most important private libraries in Northern Italy, a "Citadel of Culture" in Lonato. The volume describes 400 incunables plus an Appendix containing an additional 4 incunables. The most coveted incunabula owned by Ugo Da Como were the ones about Brescia or printed in Brescia. The arrangement is alphabetical by author. Each book receives copious references to standard bibliographies, and is accompanied by copy-specific information concerning binding and provenance. There are a number of unique incunables as well. The Library is presented in the astonishing fifteenth century "Casa del Podesta" in Lonato, Brescia, the early seat of the representative of Venice. Ugo Da Como (1869-1941), was a wealthy Italian politician who purchased the house and its magnificent gardens in 1906 at a public auction. Aware of the historical importance of the place, he had it completely restored, and filled it thousands of objects, including paintings, furniture, sculpture, majolica, and over 52.000 books. In this latter category we include manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts dating from the 12th century, thousands of 16th century books, bibliographic rarities, autographs, and the 404 incunables that are described herein. Among the full-page plates is a view of the library and a view of the front "porch" which must be seen to be fully appreciated. The Ugo da Como Foundation was estabilished in 1942 and continues to the present day.

¶ From the famed Bibliotheca Bibliographica Breslaueriana (sale at Christies NY, 2005, lot 1255), with B.H. Breslauer's circled accession number in pencil on the front wrapper.

Price: $95.00