Add MS 8577

Chronicle of Venice (703-1457); late 15th cent. Italian. The chronicle relates the history of Venice from the election of the first doge, Poluzio [Paoluccio], in 703 to the death of Francesco Foscari following his deposition as doge and the election of his successor, Pasquale Malipiero, in 1457. The section for 703-1446 (ff. 1-154v) is written in one hand, with rubricated headings, numerals and dates; some lists are also in red. Inc. 'El primo doxe che fosse fato in la cita', expl. 'Quelo seguira per lavegnir lo intenderete'. The incipit is similar to Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, It., VII. 48, the explicit of which occurs two lines from the end of the text of Add. 8577 as, 'de haver molti susidii da molte parte'. The entries for the years 1447-1457 (ff. 155-163v) are in second hand, without rubrics, inc. '1447 Fo manda per signor andrea do nado [Andrea Donà]', expl. 'con uno degno epi(?t)fio'. Some 16th-century marginal annotations in the earlier part of the MS., as well as annotations on f. 44 in the same hand as ff. 155-163v. The whole chronicle is apparently written in a Venetian dialect. The MS. is listed in Palma di Cesnola, no. 409, p. 30, and described by C. Foligno, ‘Codici di materia veneta nelle biblioteche inglesi’, in Nuovo Archivio Veneto, n.s., 5, x (1905), pt. i, no. xii, p. 105. Armorial bookplate of 5th Earl of Guilford, with shelfmark L/17/B (f. i). '648' in pencil in upper centre of f. ii and '17' in ink in upper right corner of f. ii. Purchased, together with Add. 8503, 8505, 8562, 8584, 8585, 8587, and 8602, from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 648 (part).

Paper; ff. ii+163. Sec. fol. 'corendo gli ani 772'. 312 x 215mm. Frame ruled circa 245 x circa 145mm. Watermarks similar to Briquet, balance, 2594 (A.D. 1500, Venice) and chapeau, 3404 (A.D. 1503, and with variants at Venice, 1481-1501). 18th-century binding of quarter leather with decorated paper covers.