‎CAVALCANTI, B.‎
‎Trattati overo discorsi di M. Bartolomeo Calvalcanti sopra gli ottimi Reggimenti delle Republiche antiche et moderne. Con un discorso di M. Sebastiano Erizo gentil'huomo Vinitiano de Gouverni Civili. Ne' quali con molta dottrina si mostra quanto siano utili i governi publici, & quanto necessari i priuati & particolari per conseruation del genere humano, dichiarandosi tutte le qualità de gli Stati. Con Priuilegio per anni xx.‎

‎In Venetia, (colophon: Iacobo Sansovino il Giovane, 1570), 1571. Vignette to title page, decorative woodcut initials and head- and tail-pieces. [4], 86, [2], 14 leaves. 4to. Contemporary limp vellum, ties gone, spine lettered in manuscript. Adams C.1178; DBI XXII, p. 611; BMSTC Italian, p. 162; Cosenza 951; rare, NUC and RLIN record just two copies, (DLC, NsyU). First edition, rare, of this important treatise on political theory, a blueprint for constitutional reform by the Florentine diplomat and government official Bartolomeo Cavalcanti (1503-1562). Because of political differences with the Florentine government and the Medici, Cavalcanti went into voluntary exile, was in the employment of Pope Paolo III, and Henri II of France, and especially in the liberal republic of Ferrara. Cavalcanti was much praised for his theoretical writing and his political acumen, but also for his publications on rhetoric and political theory. His work was published posthumously and edited by Sebastiano Erizzo (1525-85), whose own brief treatise on civil government, here published for the first time, is bound at the end, the last 14 leaves, and which is almost always lacking, entitled: Discorso de I Governi Civili di M. Sebastiano Erizzo, gentilhuomo Venetiano. A M. Girolamo Veniero.Starting with Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Politics, Cavalcanti develops a remarkable and far-reaching analysis of the workings of the city republic, published in a democratic spirit in Venice. The treatise is of particular interest because Cavalcanti incorporates a discussion of the economic situation and workings of public administration. Cavalcanti concurs with Aristotle that the ultimate purpose of the city state is the well-being of all citizens, and the ideal form of government would be democracy. He maintains that a healthy economy is one of the prerequisites of a functioning city state. The far-reaching importance of Cavalcanti's treatise can be seen in the fact that it was reprinted a number of times, first in 1591, but then again in 1805 and in 1852. - Some mild browning, stronger on leaves 9-11, prelims and first 5 leaves with a small inkspot in lower blank margin, but in all a good copy. ‎

Reference : 27189

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