Guarini, Battista Il Pastor Fido. Tragicommedia Pastorale ... Ora in questa XXVII impressione di curiose, & dotte Annotationi arrichiotto, & di bellissime Figure in rame ornato. Con un Compendio di Poesia ... With title page and 7 further copper-etched plates, 1 of which is a portrait of the author after a drawing by Lucas Killian, the others by Francesco Valegio, as well as numerous decorative woodcut borders and initials with pictorial inclusion (partly repeated). Venice, Ciotti, 1602 (recte 1603). 8°. 260 num. Somewhat late. Pgmt. with gilt embossed titled title on label and speckled edges. Cut. Second edition of the first illustrated edition of the probably most influential pastoral play in literary history. - Brunet II, 1775, Crescimbeni, II, 479, Folger 515, Gamba 556, Adriano Cavicchi: La Scenografia dell' Aminta e la tradizione scenografica pastorale ferrarese del sec. XVI Firenze: 1971, pp. 63-8 (thanks to Diana Parikian). - Written by Guarini (1538-1612) as a drama in 5 acts in verse form. Translated into numerous languages, even into Persian and Indian. According to Crescimbeni, the present edition is the most remarkable in terms of the accuracy of the text and the beauty of the illustrations. It is also of great importance for the history of theatre, as the plates engraved by Francesco Valegio show in detail the stage sets prepared by Aleotti for the Mantuan court in 1598: "La scenografia cosi detta 'didascalica' si trova impiegata - forse per la prima volta in maniera cosi sistematica - nel Pastor Fido di G. B. Guarini nell' edizione Ciotti di Venezia, stampata in 1602... La consideraione attenta di una serie di documenti... ci ha permesso di stabilire con tutta certezza che le scene e gli apparati spettacolari di questa rappresentazione del Pastor Fido furono opera dell'ingegnere ferrarese G. B. Aleotti detto l'Argento..." (Cavicchi) - Provenance: 1) Label of the Libreria Cecchi, Florence, from the 19th century on the front cover. 2) Karl Schalk (1851-1919), well-known Austrian historian, with his ownership entry from 1909, as well as his annotations in ink and pencil on the recto and verso of the flyleaf. - As often without the appended "Compendio di Poesia" (70 pp.). Some pagination errors. - Binding rubbed and with scratches. Parchment with slight signs of wear. Title page with a loss due to a shaved owner's note (which does not affect the printing) and a tear, slight trimming at the upper edge, otherwise in good condition. With 8 etched plates, where of 1 title page and 1 a portrait of the author after a drawing by Lucas Killian, the others by Francesco Valegio, as well as numerous wood-cut head- and tail-pieces and initials with pictorial inclusion (partly repeated). - Second imprint of the first illustrated edition of what is probably the most influential pastoral play in literary history. - Written by Guarini (1538-1612) as a drama in 5 acts in verse form. Translated into numerous languages, even into Persian and Indian. - According to Crescimbeni, the present edition is the most remarkable in terms of the accuracy of the text and the beauty of the illustrations. It is also of great importance for the history of theatre, as the plates engraved by Francesco Valegio show in detail the stage sets prepared by Aleotti for the Mantuan court in 1598. - Provenance: Label of the Libreria Cecchi, Florence, from the 19th century on the front cover, Karl Schalk (1851-1919), well-known Austrian historian, with his ownership entry from 1909, as well as his annotations in ink and pencil on the recto and verso of the flyleaf. - As often without the appended 'Compendio di Poesia' (70 pp.). Some pagination errors. - Binding worn and with scratches. Cover with slight signs of wear. Title page with a small fault at bottom left due to a removed owner's remark (which does not affect the printing), slight trimming at the upper edge, otherwise a well preserved copy of this important edition. This lot is taxed. The hammer price is subject to a 24.95% buyer's premium and the final invoice amount is subject to 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, silkscreens, offset prints, photographs) in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.