8vo in 4s (143 x 94 mm); ff 22 [2, blank] printed in italics; two old ink inscriptions on title, one the initials G.F.M, the other an inoffensive doodle, a very good copy in late nineteenth-century red morocco, spine titled in gilt, in a matching red morocco case. £15,000
First edition, extremely rare, and only edition of the first printed book devoted to cheese. There is an attractive legend, promoted by Doni in his Libraria, that Landi was inspired to write the work by Cardinal Medici's pleasure on receiving a gift of cheese. Its real origin is well explained by Quadrio; Landi was a member of the distinguished but short-lived Academia del Virtu founded in Rome in 1538 by Claudio Tolomei. At their weekly meetings at Archbishop Colonna's house academicians produced pieces they had written for presentation to their president, known as the ‘Re del Virtu’. That this was one such piece is confirmed not only by the title, but by the many parenthetical addresses to ‘Your Majesty’. Although highly diverting the work contains a mass of solid information not found elsewhere. Dairying, the manufacture of cheese, the different shapes in which cheese can be made, the many varieties and nomenclature of regional cheeses, the nutritional value and health benefits of all cheeses, are among the aspects of the subject covered in detail. Landi, from a famous noble Piacentine family, lays strong claims for the superior qualities of the cheese from his own district. He emphasises the part played by the excellent local salt, which was also acknowledged to be a reason for the outstanding cervelati, mortadelle, sanguinacci, zambudelli and salsiccie of his home country. The pre-eminence of the cows is, he says, unquestionable. He also claims that the fact that foreigners called cheese after the place that they bought it rather than where it was made explains why Tuscans call Piacentine cheese parmeggiano and buyers from Lyon refer to it as melanese. It is good to know that the current publicity for a gastronomic tour organised by the commune quotes this work. The imprint is false as has been shown by Dr. Rhodes. He attributes it to Giolito and cites as a reason for his anonymity certain indelicacies in the text. (’Accertamenti tipografici sulla "Formaggiata" del Conte Giulio Landi, 1542’, Bolletino storico piacentino, LXXX, Fasc 2, pp 210-3).
This work is extremely rare in private hands; the ten copies we have been able to trace are BL; BN; Biblioteca Marciana; Biblioteca Landi, Piacenza; the Vatican; Biblioteca Trivulziana and Comunale, Milan; Biblioteca Internazioni di Gastronomia; Folger; University of Illinois, Urbana. There was no copy in the Schraemli collection nor in the Westbury collection whose catalogue cites the Vatican copy.
B.In.G. 1078; Marciana 845; Hennsler 800; Westbury 106; not in OCLC
GBP 15000.00
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