Add MS 8562

MARCO FOSCARINI: RELAZIONE OF SAVOY; 1743. Italian. Copy. Transcript of the relazione compiled by Marco Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador to Savoy and later Doge of Venice (1762-1763). Dedicated to Carlo Emanuele III of Savoy, the text contains a report on the condition and government of the Duke's dominions as well as memorials of the House of Savoy, focusing particularly on the achievements of Emanuele Filiberto (1559-80), Vittorio Amedeo II (1675-1730) and Carlo Emanuele III (1730-1773). Title (f. 1) 'Relazione Del Marco Foscarini Cavaliere e Procuratore. Ritornato dall Ambasciata Straordinaria Al Re di Sardegna, 1743'. In the present MS. the text begins (f. 3) 'Solevano Serenissimo Principe gli Antichi Maggiori dopo ritornati dalle Corti Straniere' and ends (f. 65v) 'subentri in luogo di quello che io non valsi a promovere nella mia Residenza alla Corte'. Other copies of the same text are in Add. 8550, 8561, (ff. 16-94), 10214, 14312, 22785, 22896, (ff. 227-259v, imperfect at the beginning) and Stowe 99. The text is published in L. Cibrario, Relazione dello Stato di Savoia negli anni 1574, 1670, 1743 scritte dagli ambasciadori veneti Molini Bellegno e Foscarini (Torino, 1830), pp. 89-208; (BL copy 1317.d.22) and partly published in Il Mercurio Italico, Ragguaglio Generale intorno alla Letteratura, Belle Arti, Utili Scoperte di tutta l'Italia, (1789), I and II, passim, (BL copy 896.i.15). Decorated frontispiece (f.1). Armorial bookplate of 5th Earl of Guilford, with shelfmark 'L/20/D' (front pastedown). '648' in pencil in upper left corner of reverse of flyleaf. Purchased, together with Add. 8577, 8584, 8585, 8587, 8602, from R. H. Evans, 12 Dec. 1830, lot 648 (part).

Paper; ff. 65. Old foliation in ink 1-126 (beg. f. 3). 296 x 234mm. One 18th-cent. hand. Full brown marbled leather binding with gilt-tooled edging and spine and the arms of Marco Foscarini, Doge of Venice, impressed in gold on the front and back covers. Decorated pastedowns and contiguous flyleaves. Edges mottled in red.