[DI COPPO, FRA GIOVANNI (auth.); MANSFIELD, M. (ed.)]. The Legend of the Holy Fina, Virgin of Santo Gimignano: Now First Translated from the Trecento Italian of Fra Giovanni di Coppo; with Introduction and Notes by M. Mansfield. London: Chatto and Windus, 1908.
FIRST EDITION THUS, leather-bound, hardcover, octavo (16.5cm x 12cm x 2cm), pp. xlv, 127. English text. Stunning Renaissance-style binding of full calf with metal clasps and decoration in blind, red dyed page edges, initial and terminal blanks plus half-title present, frontis and extra title, facsimile title of the 1598 edition, illustrated plates throughout, each with a tissue-guard, notes to the rear. Condition: VERY GOOD. Binding tight and secure, being very well-preserved, the clasps intact. A touch of foxing to the endpapers. Without previous ownership markings. A beautifully bound copy. Scarce thus.
Notes: First edition. An illustrated work on the Saint Fina, written by Giovanni de Coppo, here translated into English by Mildred Mansfield. Part of Chatto and Windus' 'New Medieval Library' series. Giovanni de Coppo's work on the Saint Fina. Fina is a venerate Italian Christian girl who is venerated in the town of San Gimignano. Her life was changed by a serious illness when she was ten years old, an illness which began to paralyse her. Her faith, however, relived her pain, and despite living in poverty, she thanked God and hoped that her soul might meet Jesus Christ. With a frontispiece, and several plates. Includes the original text in Italian. Here presented in a stunning leather binding of period design.
