"Petits contes un peu libres" (Brunet). Scarce early edition based on Cornazano's collection of tales.

Antonio Cornazano or Cornazzano (1429-84) was a celebrated and popular poet, teacher and Latin scholar. He lived in Siena, Milan, Ferrara and Venice and was the author of a famous early treatise on the art of dance.

These tales were originally published under the title De Proverbi origin - a collection of 16 stories, very funny and indecent, each one illustrating a common proverb. In this collection, five stories have been illustrated with attractive woodcuts.

Duplessis notes that all early editions of this work are very rare and describes it as mildly indecent. [See Duplessis, page 229.] The present edition appears to be identical to another edition published by Zoppino in Venice 1526. Both editions contain the same woodcut title, 40 leaves and 17 woodcuts. Some of the woodcuts also appear in the 1533 edition of Bocaccio. There were several later editions, including one in 1535 and one in 1558 by the same printer.


8vo. (14.5 cm x 9 cm), ff. 40, including 17 pictorial woodcuts, title within architectural woodcut border and printed in red and black, title shaved at front margin, last three leaves with minor worm damage removing several letters, full 19th century calf, discreetly rebacked with labels laid on, marbled page ends, board ruled in gilt and blind and devices of William Stirling-Maxwell to boards in blind, some rubbing to ends and corners.

Brunet II, 277; Duplessis, p.229; Essling 2022; Sander 2184