[MAGLIABECHI, Antonio.] SALVINI, Anton Maria.

Delle lodi di Anton Magliabechi, orazione funerale ... detta ... pubblicamente nell'Accademia Fiorentina il di xxiii di Settembre dell'anno MDCCXV.

Florence, nella Stamperia di S.A.R., per I Guiducci, e Franchi, 1715. Folio, pp. xxx, with large engraved vignette of the 'Accademia Fiorentina' incorporating a view of Florence on title-page, fine engraved portrait of Magliabechi in a rich architectural frame after Antonio Montauti; a very good and large copy in contemporary marbled limp paper boards, spine rubbed. First edition of Salvini's funeral oration on the librarian to the Grand-Duke of Tuscany; and the first biographical study of this famous bibliophile. Antonio Magliabechi (1633-1715) was a self-taught Italian scholar of great learning. He edited medieval Latin manuscripts and compiled the first catalogue of the Hebrew and Oriental manuscripts in the Laurentian Library in Florence. Since 1673 he was the librarian to Cosimo III, Grand-Duke of Tuscany. He became the central figure of literary life in Florence and corresponded with scholars throughout Europe. His own collection of books and manuscript (30,000 volumes) was bequeathed to the Grand Duke. The Magliabechiana was combined with the grand-ducal private library (Palatina) in 1861, the two forming the Bibliotheca Nazionale.'In private life Magliabechi was an eccentric old bachelor, negligent, dirty, slovenly, always reeking with tobacco, engaged in study at all hours, even at his meals, a Diogenes in his requirements' (Catholic Encyclopaedia). The fine portrait depicts him ruthlessly unflattering.

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