FERRETTI, Marco Antonio. Mirinda favola pastorale del C. Marc'Antonio Ferretti nell'Accademia de SS.ri Innominati di Parma detto il Rugginoso all'ill.ma et ecc.ma sig.ra D. Giulia Orsina de Conti duchessa di Poli. Venice: Domenico Venturati. 1613.
4to. Contemporary vellum, spine lettered and ruled in gilt; pp. viii, 152, [8], pagination including engraved title-page and 5 full-page engraved illustrations by Giacomo Lauro after P. Gaia, woodcut initials and tailpieces; binding minimally spotted; occasional light foxing but generally a very good copy.
First edition, very rare, of this late Renaissance Italian pastoral play, set in Greek antiquity on the island of Crete, with five full-page engravings by Giacomo Lauro (1561-after 1635).
The Mirinda was performed in Parma in 1612. Its author, count Marco Antonio Ferretti (1589-1629), was a writer from Ancona and member of the Parma Accademia degli Innominati under the name of 'Rugginoso' (literally 'rusty'). His other published works include a collection of madrigals, the play Nenia, and the poem Gli horti del sole (1621), dedicated to Federico, Prince of Urbino.
The book is dedicated to Giulia Orsini, second wife of Lotario Conti, Duke of Poli (d. 1635), with her coat of arms engraved on the title-page.
In some copies, the engraved title lacks the date '1613'.
Very rare outside Italy: Library Hub shows Trinity College, Cambridge only.
#2101438