Raccolta Universale Delle Opere di Giorgio Baffo Veneto. T. I, II, III, and IV

Cosmopoli (Venice or Genoa): S.N.. Good with no dust jacket. 1789. First Edition. Hardcover. [ii], 312, [i] (errors); 312, 312, 312 pp. With a letter from a dealer or collector dated 1851 saying the book was printed by the Duke of Pembroke. 3/4 dark red leather with pretty gilt to spines, red glazed cloth boards, corners and extremities a little rubbed, interior has blue marbled endpapers, title pages are lighter stock and a bit browned, cut short. Frontis portrait of Baffo. Paper is heavier stock and minimally foxed. Bindings are sturdy. Erotic sonnects, madrigals and songs written in a "pure Venetian dialect" by Baffo, who greatly enjoyed writing them but didn't want them published during his lifetime -- although he enjoyed his friends' plaudits when he circulated the poems among them! Apollinaire called it "plus grand poète Priapique qui ait jamais existé et en même temps l'un des poètes le plus lyriques du XVIIIe siècle. " Very scarce in commerce and a handsome four volume set, complete. ; [ii], 312, [i] (errors); 312, 312, 312 pp. Frontis portrait of Baffo. Each page has an elaborately decorated title page. The printing place is "Cosmopoli" commonly assumed to be Venice (or sometimes Genoa). No publisher is given but there is a letter from a collector or dealer dated 1851 tucked into the first volume which states "Henri S. Bohn dit dans son Catalogue: Privately printed by the Earl of Pembroke." The four volumes are bound with 3/4 dark red leather with pretty gilt to the spine, red glazed cloth boards. Some rubbing and fading to the boards, but generally pretty sturdy. Interior blue marbled end papers. The title pages are from a lighter paper stock than the text and are lightly browned and a little chipped at the edges, also cut a bit short. Paper stock for text is heavy and clean with minimal foxing, bottom edges are rough and look handmade. Bindings are sturdy. Language is "pure Venetian". A collection of Baffo's erotic and obscene sonnets, madrigals and songs. He did not want the poems published while he was alive but enjoyed the plaudits of his friends, to whom he circulated manuscript copies of the poems. This is the very scarce first edition of the collected works and a handsome four volume set, complete. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .