Vita e Lettere di Amerigo Vespucci Gentiluomo Fiorentino Raccolte e Illustrate dall' Abate Angelo Maria Bandini

Amerigo Vespucci; Angelo Maria Bandini

Firenze, Stamperia all'insegna di Apollo, 1745.

Quarto. lxxvi, 128, 1 pl. [1] pp. Bound in early modern red Moroccan leather. Gilt spine and rule. Marbled endpapers. AEG. Light wear to boards. Rubbing and chipping wear to spine. Lacks the folding genealogical table. Internally well persevered with clean, unmarked pages.

First edition of a critical and landmark biography of Amerigo Vespucci, the navigator after whom America is named, depicting the life of Amerigo Vespucci, including his letters describing alleged voyages to America. Also includes Girolamo Sernizi's account of Vasco da Gama's journey. Described by Sabin as "an elaborate panegyric of Vespucius, in which he is called the Discoverer of America.” "This classic work is much sought after. It can be affirmed that the book's publication inflamed the literary controversy about Vespucci that impassioned the greatest 'Americanists' of ensuing decades. It is an indispensable work, a true landmark in Vespucian studies" - Borba de Moraes. Sabin 3149; Borba de Moraes, p 68; Alden/Landis 745/218; Palau 23255