Il 2022 it has been a year with great interest in the ancient literary works and artists' books confirming that collecting old books and manuscripts can be not only a passion but also a safe investment. The Auction House Bridge offers several exceptional pieces, including: one of the most important editions of the Divine Comedy di Dante Alighieri, a masterpiece of Brescian typography of the fifteenth century by Bonino Bonini).
Appointment in Milan on 31 January 2023
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) – The Comedy. Brescia: Bonino Bonini, 31 May 1487. One of the most important editions of the 1481th century Comedy and a masterpiece of 19th century Brescian typography: it is in fact the first time in which both Hell and Purgatory are fully illustrated. The first woodcuts are inspired by the famous Florentine publication of 90 adorned with XNUMX engravings by Botticelli; the others instead have an original composition and will then be taken up again in the various subsequent editions and in the Venetian prints of the XNUMXs. Estimate €30.000 – 50.000
Other works of interest:
Giacomo Gastaldi (1500-1566) – [Map of Italy] – The drawing of the modern geography of the whole province of Italy. Venice: Fabio Licinio, 1561. "The most important map of Italy that appeared in the 26th century, both in terms of size and content" (Bifolco/Ronca). “One of the milestones in the evolution of the cartography of Italy” (Almagià. Monumenta Italie cartographica p. XNUMX). Estimate €8.000 – 12.000
Joannes Blaeu (1596-1673) and Martinus Martini (1614-1661) – Theatrum orbis terrarum, sive Novus Atlas. pars sexta. Novus Altas Sinensis. Amsterdam: Blaeu, 1655. Splendid copy in contemporary coloring and in Dutch vellum binding of the sixth volume of Blaeu's Novus Atlas, i.e. the first European atlas of China. The work is edited by Martinus Martini (1614-1661), a Jesuit sent to China in 1642, who returned to Europe in 1654, the year in which he prepared this atlas. His Novus Atlas Sinensis is the first work that offers descriptions and geographical coordinates of the fifteen provinces of the Chinese empire, with the location of the capitals and the precise delineation of the borders. Estimate €8.000 – 12.000
abraham ortelius (1527-1598) – Theatrum orbis terrarum.. Nomenclator ptolemaicus. Antwerp: Christopher Plantin, 1579. First edition of the Theatrum printed by Plantin and second edition in Latin of this fundamental atlas first published in 1570. Provenance: Ferdinando Valperga, Marquis of Rivara (Knight of the Order of the Redeemer and Captain of the Guards of Mantua; ownership note on the first endpaper dated 1701). Estimate €10.000 – 15.000
Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) – Invented prisons. [Rome: GB Piranesi, mid to late 70th century. Fresh and well inked copy, probably one of the copies of the third edition published between 1778 (the year of Piranesi's death) and 1779. This is the copy that belonged to Jakob Pirchstaller, Austrian sculptor and architect. The watermarks are not easy to find due to the strong inking and are barely visible, except in small strokes, but a series of Robinson 59s (Bracciano), two Robinson 58s have been identified and on plate VII there is a larger unidentified watermark . The revised version of the Prisons marks the high point of Piranesi's output and is considered to be his most important work, both technically and artistically. Esteem € 20.000 - 30.000
Salvador Dali (1904-1989) – Biblia Sacra vulgatae editionis. Milan: Rizzoli, 1967-1969. The ad personam copy which contains as original gouache “”Iosias sepultus in mausoleo patrum””. Since the gouache is not signed by the artist, a certificate ""certificat d'expertitzaciò"" signed by the members ""de la Comissiò d'Acreditaciò i Catalogaciò de la Fundaciò Gala-Salvador Dalì"" on 15 June 2007 (certificate Reg. C-921). The work is made up of 5 folio volumes richly illustrated with 105 lithographs and the copy was printed ad personam as also attested by the accompanying certificate. Estimate €40.000 – 60.000
