Beschreibung:

MONIGLIA, Giovanni Andrea. L'Hipermestra festa teatrale rappresentata dal Sereniss. Principe Cardinale Gio. Carlo di Toscana per celebrare il giorno natalizio del Real Principe di Spagna . Florence: Stamperia di S.A.S., 1658. 4° (207 x 150mm). Engraved frontispiece and 13 folding engraved plates of stage sets with actors, the final plate a view of the theatre from the stage. (Frontispiece lightly frayed at edges with one short tear, light spotting, a few short tears at folds of plates.) Modern black morocco, gilt turn-ins. FIRST EDITION of an illustrated libretto of an opera, first performed at Florence in the Teatro della Pergola on 18 June 1658. It was sponsored by Cardinal Giovanni Carlo (d.1666), brother of Ferdinand II, Duke of Tuscany, in celebration of the birthday of Philip IV, King of Spain; Moniglia dedicated it to Philip's all-powerful minister, Don Luigi, Count-Duke of Olivares. The music was composed by P. Cavalli (1602-76). Berlin Kat. 4123; BL 17th-Century Italian II, p. 585; Palau 176214. Clubb 614 lists only an undated Florence edition.