La Vita Nuova – Dante Alighieri – 1906 | Illustrated | Unique Tooled Leather

While best-known for the famous Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri also wrote La Vita Nuova, a late 13th-century work of prose and sonnets on courtly love. Many scholars agree that this work was a pseudo-autobiography in which Dante expresses his own love for Beatrice through 42 distinct sonnets.

An impressive printing of La Vita Nuova. Published by Tipografia Domenicana in 1906 Florence, this work features an English translation as well as facsimile engravings of Attilio Razzolini’s 16th-century Italian edition of Vita Nuova.

The binding of this example is remarkable: tooled leather boards, decorative spine ribs woven into the covers, and original clasps.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: La Vita Nuova (The New Life)
• Author(s): Dante Alighieri
• Illustrator(s): Attilio Razzolini
• Contributor(s):
• Publisher: Firenze [Florence], Tipografia Domenicana
• Edition: First edition, 1906
• Format: (8vo), single volume
• Binding: Full decorative leather with raised spine ribs, tooled covers, and metal clasps
• Size:  9 x 6.5 in (22.9 x 16.5 cm)
• Collation: [6], 74 leaves
• Illustrations: Illustrated title page, multiple engraved facsimile plates
• Contents Include:
  • 42 Sonnets
  • Dual-language presentation (English and Italian)

Condition:

Near Fine. Leather binding shows only minor rubbing to corners, all elements structurally sound. Clasps close securely. Spine is solid. Pages are clean, with no markings or repairs.

Why Collect This?

• Rare Florence-printed bilingual edition
• Stunning, unique binding with tooled leather and leather weaving
• Relevant to collectors of Dante, early love poetry, or fine leather bindings

Item Number: #28953