ASSARINO (Luca). Vita, e miracoli di S. Antonio di Padova. Genoa, Pier Giovanni Calenzani, 1646. In-12, red morocco, compartmented decoration composed of a rich gilt lace frame, a large lozenge in relief in the centre determining four spandrels and a diamond-shaped recessed centre, composition underlined by black wax scrolls and gilt fillets and decorated with a scattering of small gilt crosses in the spandrels and a spray of small gilt irons in the centre, ornate spine, inner lace, double endpapers, gilt edges (period binding). First edition of this hagiography of Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) by the Genoese historian and novelist Luca Assarino (1602-1672). A delightful and very rare seventeenth-century Italian binding with rich, fine compartmental decoration in relief and intaglio. "A beautiful and exceedingly well executed Italian panel binding of the seventeenth century. The gilt tooling is of the richness and delicacy usually looked for in the early French and English bindings, and is of a very unusual character." (cat. Avery). Partially faded handwritten inscription at the bottom of the title: Ex libris mei Francisci Antonii Fabrani sacerdotis... 1802, repeated at the end of the text. From the library of Samuel P. Avery (1822-1904), New York art dealer and collector, without provenance mark. The copy was included in the exhibition of antique bindings from his collection organised by Columbia University (1903, n°144) and in the sale of his books (Rare and valuable books and bindings..., New York, 10-12 Nov. 1919, n°43). Fine and discreet restorations, upper hinge cracked.