La Casa dei Doganieri e altri versi

inscribed by the author & signed by the artists

Presentation copy of the Nobel laureate Montale's collection of prize poems, one of 25 copies and signed by the contributing artists.

Montale's rarest and most desirable work, inscribed by the author in black ink on the half-title: 'alla deliziosa Miss Jane Herrmann'. The recipient was Jane Lowenstein (née Herrmann), friend and supporter of members of the St Ives group of artists, including Naum Gabo, Alfred Wallis (from whom she bought several works during the war), Ben Nicolson, and Barbara Hepworth.

The book was published following the inauguration of a poetry competition in Florence in 1931, the Premio dell'Antico Fattore, which took its name from the weekly 'tavolate' held by painters, sculptors, poets and writers in the eponymous Florentine trattoria. Judged by artists rather than academics and writers, the prize was awarded to Montale's collection, and 150 copies were printed hors commerce, of which 25 were numbered in roman numerals. The present copy, inscribed by Montale to Lowenstein, is also signed by Gianni Vagnetti, Arturo Loria, Libero Andreotti, Felice Carena, Alberto Magnelli, F. Chiapelli, Giuseppe Cesetti, Ezio Giovanozzi and Elio Vittorini, four of whom contributed an illustration to the volume.

First edition, sole printing, number XII of 25 copies numbered in Roman numerals (I-XXV), inscribed by the author & signed by the contributing artists, from a total edition of 150 hors commerce copies; large 8vo (25.3 x 17.4 cm); title page printed in red and black, 5 full-page illustrations, illustration by Alberto Magnelli signed in black ink at foot; original wrappers printed in red and black with illustration by Guido Peyron, light soiling and browned near edges, spine split where stapled but holding; an excellent example and entirely unrestored.