Constantinople. NICETAS, Acominatus. Della historia di Niceta Coniate delle cose dell'imperio di Costantinopoli.In Venetia, Appresso Francesco Sansovino, 1562

4to, mm 198x140; Stiff Vellum of eighteenth century, gilt title on label to spine, sprinkled edges; 4 unnumbered leaves, 111 leaves. Printer’s device title-page, Head-pieces and Initials, round and italic type, marginal notes. Armorial bookplate on the front pastedown “Otiis comitis Fontanellati”. Lacking the last blank leaf. Stains on some pages, unsophisticated specimen.

Beautiful and rare edition by Sansovino, which adds the marginal notes and the last part. The history of the empire of Constantinople is the capital work of Nicetas, and goes from 1180 to 1206. Of considerable interest is the description of the capture and the sacking of Constantinople, to be compared with the similar descriptions of Villehardouin and Paolo Rannusio. Sansovino adds the chronology until the fall of Constantinople in 1453: in the marginal notes particular attention is devoted to facts concerning the Republic of Venice in a direct or indirect way.