1669 Rare Italian Vellum Book - Oration in praise of Louis XIV King of France

Author: Carlo Dati.
Title: Panegirico alla Maestà Cristianissima di Luigi XIV, Re di Francia e di Navarra.
Publisher: Firenze, All’Insegna della Stella, 1669. First Edition.
Language: Text in Italian.
Size: 10 x 7 inches.
Pages: 68 pages.
Binding: Near fine contemporary full vellum binding with hand-lettered spine titles and small decorative marks (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining notably on the title page and half-title page - as shown, handwritten note of provenance appears on the front free endpaper- as shown).

Estimate: (USD 300–350).

The book: An important Italian oration in praise of Louis XIV of France, known as the “Sun King.” Delivered by Carlo Dati (1619–1676), Florentine scholar, humanist, and disciple of Galileo, this panegirico is a celebration of the monarch’s power, divine mission, and virtues. Published in Florence in 1669, the text reflects both the Italian admiration for French grandeur and the European culture of royal glorification in the 17th century. A fine and rare example of Italian baroque rhetoric, it embodies the intellectual and political networks that tied Florence to France.

The author: Carlo Dati was a Florentine scholar and member of the Accademia della Crusca, closely connected to the most influential intellectuals of his time. He corresponded with Galileo and was known for his eloquent prose and contributions to Italian letters. This panegyric reflects not only his rhetorical brilliance but also the political admiration of Italian states toward Louis XIV’s rising dominance in Europe.