editio princeps

The rare editio princeps of this famous treatise containing a compendium of all the culinary literature that appeared during the sixteenth century. The author, Giovanni Battista Rossetti, was the scalco and organiser of the banquets at the court of the Duke of Ferrara Alfonso II d'Este. He is remembered in particular for the conception of the pumpkin tortello. The work, dedicated to Lucrezia d'Este, duchess of Urbino, contains rules for the maestro della casa, a list of menus for banquets by month, a list of recipes arranged by ingredient, as well as methods of provisioning during times of war.

First edition; 4to, (20.3 x 15.5 cm); woodcut printer's device to title, woodcut headpieces, tailpieces and initials, some light marginal waterstains, title page slightly browned; later full calf, gilt lettering to spine on red and black morocco labels, spine in compartments, ruled in gilt, some light rubbing to extremities, red speckled edges, housed in a modern brown card slipcase; [16], 268, [4], 269-547 [i.e. 549], [3]pp.

Westbury, 193; Vicaire, 752; B.IN.G. 1713.