DANTE ALIGHIERI (1265-1321). [Divina Commedia:] Dante col sito, et forma dell'Inferno tratta dalla istessa descrittione del poeta. Edited by Pietro Bembo. Venice: Heirs of Aldus, August 1515.

First illustrated Aldine edition of the Divine Comedy. The first Aldine Dante was printed in the same portable format in 1502, with the text newly edited by Pietro Bembo. This edition, published in the months following Aldus's death, is their first to include woodcut illustrations. These comprise a map of Hell and diagrams of sin which had first appeared in a 1506 Giunta edition. Aldus's father-in-law and business partner Andrea Torresano dedicated the volume to the poet Vittoria Colonna, herself a friend of Bembo. UCLA 136; Renouard 73:8.

Octavo (145 x 94mm). Aldine devices on title, additional title, and final page; two-page woodcut map of Hell, two-page diagram organizing the sins of Hell, one page diagram of sins in Purgatory (faint dampstain and light spotting at edges, gatherings pi, a, and end of H with lower gutter repaired, touching printed area of diagrams; edges of woodcut map and some headlines shaved). Late 18th?-century blindstamped calf, edges blue over earlier red paint (neatly rebacked). Provenance: a few marginal comments in Italian (trimmed).