Rare Ragusa imprint of the first Italian translation of Harwoods bibliography on Greek and Roman classics, 1787

Edward Harwood: Prospetto di varie edizioni degli autori classici greci e latini. Tradotto dall ́originale inglese dell Dr. Eduardo Avood. Corretto ed accresciuto da Maffeo Pinelli. Ragusa (Dubrovnik): [Carlo Antonio Occhi], 1787.

8vo (17,7:10,2 cm). [6 lv. (title, preface, toc)], 270 [1], IX [1] pages. Woodcut and letterpress, bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards with gilt ornamental title on spine, marbled endpapers and yellow coloured edges throughout.

Rare Ragusa imprint of the first Italian translation of Harwoods meritorious bibliography »View of various editions of the Greek and Roman classcis«, presumabely printed by the first printer on Dalmatian soil, C. A. Occhi.

Contents, Author: Edward Harwood's, a prolific English classical scholar, bibliography was first published in 1775, further editions and translations of his most deserving work followed swift, also in Italian language translated by Maffeo Pinelli. This first Italian edition appeared in 1780 and was printed by Carlo Palese in Venice, the place where during the late 15th century many of the editions of Greek and Romans Classics had appeared in print for the first time ever.1787

Printer: Present unaltered imprint of the first Italian edition was presumably executed by Carlo Antonio Occhi in the independent Republic of Ragusa (nowadays Dubrovnik, Croatia), the first printer on Dalmatian soil, whose work-shop existed between 1783 until his death in 1787 and produced a total of 50 books mainly dedicated to Dalmatian literature.

Condition: Corners and edges of binding with minor wear, rear cover in parts worn, otherwise a well preserved copy indeed.

Provenance: Library of the Hungarian nobles Semsei from nowadays Eastern Slovakia, with the stamp of „Semsei Könyvtar“ on the title page.

Rarity: In contrast to the Venice edition of 1780 present Ragusa imprint is of particular rarity. RBH show no auction result at all.

Reference: Besterman 853; H. Röhling, “Ragusa”, in: Lexikon des gesamten Buchwesens Online. Consulted online on 05 February 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004337862_COM_180049>.