Torquato Tasso. Il Goffredo overo la Gierusalemme liberata. — Paris: Impremerie Royale, 1644. — Paris: Impremerie Royale, 1644.

Title page: IL | GOFFREDO | OVERO | LA | GIERUSALEMME | LIBERATA | DI TORQUATO TASSO. ||

Engraved title: On the banner: IL GOFFREDO | OVERO | LA GIERUSALEMME | LIBERATA | DI TORQUATO TASSO ||; under the image, within frame: IN PARIGI NELLA STAMPERIA REALE MDC XLIV. Signed: J. Stella Invenit — Ægid Rousselet  Sculpsit (with tall “s”) ||

Collation: 2 blank leaves with donation ink inscription to recto of the 1^st: “Ex Dono Patruelis D^o Roberto Willughby” [i.e. Robert Willoughby]; t.p. / blank, engraved t.p. by Gilles Rousselet after Jacques Stella / blank, “Allegoria dell poema” 4 leaves, 1^st two leaves signed iij and iiij, respectively; π⁶ A-Z⁴ Aa-Zz⁴ Aaa-Rrr⁴, 2 blank leaves at the end; text paginated from 1 to 502 [2] (p. 503 tailpiece, p. 504 blank); a printable area marked with vertical and horizontal double lines; total: 252 leaves of text (504 pages), 6 prelims and 4 blanks. Illustrated throughout with head- and tailpieces, and historiated initials.

Binding: 18th-century red crushed morocco, triple-fillet gilt border, triple-fillet gilt frame, panel with gilt lozenge centrepiece, lozenges at corners, marbled endpapers, AEG, crudely rebacked retaining original spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, crimson label with gilt lettering; The Robin Collection bookplate to front pastedown.

Provenance: The Robin Collection; Robert Willoughby family.

Contributors:

Torquato Tasso (Italian, 1544 –1595) – author.

Jacques Stella (French, 1596 – 1657) – artist.

Gilles [Aegidius] Rousselet (French, 1610 – 1686) – engraver.