2 vols. in 4° (290x210 mm), pp. (2), XXX, 364; XII, 360. Occhietto, beautiful allegorical frontispiece engraved in copper, title page printed in red and black, with engraved vignette bearing the motto “Sol cose gravi io canto” (I sing only of serious things); oval portrait of the Poet f.t. outlined by Pietro Antonio Novelli and engraved by Jacopo Leonardis, from the famous painting by A. Carracci. 20 plates outside the text placed at each of the 20 corresponding cantos, all engraved by Leonardis from drawings by Bernardo Castello, prepared for the 1617 edition. Contemporary full rigid parchment binding, title on gold label on the spine, marbled endpapers, elegant gold embossed edges. Gilded frame on both volumes on the covers and small floral friezes on the spine of the second volume. At the beginning of each canto, the “arguments” are framed by an elegant copper engraved frieze, and the first initial of each canto is finely illustrated. In addition, 95 scenes from the poem are illustrated with exquisite half-page engravings interspersed throughout the text, all by Leonardis from drawings by Novelli. At the end of each volume are Scipione Gentili's annotations and G. Guastavini's observations on the places in the poem imitated by ancient poets and writers. An excellent specimen, internally very fresh, in a beautiful impression of this magnificent and highly regarded edition, one of the best for the refinement of its iconography. The parchment is solid with traces of surface dirt on both volumes and a scratch on the lower cover of the parchment of the second volume. The corner piece is missing at the corners and the decorations on the first volume have faded over time. Tassiana Collection, 270: “This edition deserves to be counted among the most beautiful and ornate editions of Jerusalem”. Serassi II, 406: 'This edition deserves to be counted among the most beautiful and ornate editions of Jerusalem, as the printer spared no effort or expense... It is richer than any other in illustrations..." Morazzoni, p. 228. Gamba, 948, p. 285.