FRANCO, Giacomo. Habiti delle Donne Venetiane intagliate in rame nuovamente. 1 f. (engraved title-page), 20 ff. (letterpress descriptions, numbered 1-20), and 19 full-page copperplate engravings (numbered 2-20). Small folio, 287 x 205 mm, bound in contemporary flexible vellum. Venice: Giacomo Franco, [ca. 1592].

First Edition of this ravishing illustrated book from the Venetian Renaissance. The work ranks among the greatest illustrated books produced during the late sixteenth century. Franco's exceptional etchings appear here in very fine impressions. Since the subject matter involves a number of courtesans, the book was most likely printed privately in a small number of copies ( see below).

Giacomo Franco (1550-1620), engraver and printer who worked at Venice for several publishers, set up his own business about 1596 (see Carlo Pasero, "Giocomo Franco, editore, incisore e calcografo nei secoli XVI e XVII" in: La Bibliofilia 37 [1935], pp. 332-45); he was the son of Giovanni Battista Franco, the well-known Venetian painter.

These exceptional etchings depict Venetian festivals and the costumes worn for various occasions at the end of the sixteenth century, including full-page portraits of: Venetian women dressed for the Carnival festivities, the dress of Venetian women while visiting friends by gondola, women's dress for recreation such as hunting and running of the bulls through the city streets, winter dress for Venetian women, costumes worn for portrait painting, the dress of famous Venetian courtesans, the dress of the Doge's wife, and costumes worn by male and female suitors.

This work is far rarer than Franco's Habiti d'Huomeni et Donne Venetiane, [1610]. It is recorded that Franco requested a privilege for a book of women's costumes in 1591, and since the title-page illustrates the newly completed Rialto bridge, opened in 1591, and further, identifies the bridge's designer, it seems likely that the book was produced around that time. Franco wasn't granted an official privilege to print the book, probably because of the inclusion of so many courtesans in the illustrations. Most likely he had it published furtively, which accounts for its extreme rarity. First two leaves repaired and tipped-on to sewing guards; a fresh copy in contemporary vellum.

No copy in ABPC since its inception (1895). Combined RLIN, OCLC, and NUC searches produce only two copies, namely the Houghton Library and NYPL Spencer Collection. This copy conforms to Cicogna's extremely detailed collation (the Spencer copy, to which this copy also conforms, is catalogued erroneously). Repaired tear at inner margin of title and to first text leaf, small wormhole filled on same leaves, otherwise, a very fine copy.

PROVENANCE: circular blind-stamp containing the initials "FA" on final leaf.

Cicogna, Delle inscrizioni veneziane V, pp. 442-443 (no. 19). Vinet 2291. Cicognara 1655. Colas 1106. Lipperheide 1322. Pasero, Catalogue Raisonné of " Giocomo Franco" pp 332-45.