VASARI, Giorgio (1511-1574) - Vita del gran Michelagnolo Buonarroti scritta da M. Giorgio Vasari, pittore et architetto aretino. Florence: Giunti, 1568. A fine edition and one of the first texts extracted from a work and published separately ever printed. It is Michelangelo's biography taken from the second Giuntina edition of 1568 of Vasari's Lives published to satisfy the buyers of the first edition of the complete work of 1550, who wanted the life of the great Florentine artist updated to the latest events until the death of 1564. In the dedication to Alessandro de 'Medici we read "Ma perche molti vorranno essa vita del Buonarruoto sola, e separata dall'altre, ci è parso di sodisfare a ciascuno, farne stampare alcun numero fuori di quelle, che sono nell'intero dell'opera: e si compiaccia a chi ò non vorrà, ò non potrà havere tutto il libro insieme". The layout is like that of the original version, except for the final gathering where the pages were reprinted and where a small typographic endpiece was added at the end of the text. The final leaf contains the register on the recto and the printer's device on the verso. 8vo (215 x 154mm). Title within an elaborate woodcut border with a view of the city of Florence, woodcut full-page portrait of the author, printer's device at the end, initials and woodcut headpieces (slight dampstaining at inner margin). 20th-century red morocco with gilt arms, modern endpapers, decorated in gold on plates, spine, edges and inlays (some dampstaining at foot of spine where the rear joint is splitting); preserved in a uniform red morocco case. Provenance: modern exlibris.

Estimate € 1,000 - 1,500

Sold € 3,500