Small 8vo. 97 leaves [194 pp], woodcut device on title page and end leaf, recent full vellum, lightly soiled, title inscribed on raised spine, several old marginalia, some foxing, small corner restoration to first few leaves, marginal restorations to title page, bookplate verso front cover, Liberedi di Philippo di Giunta, Florence, first edition, 1529.

Synopsis

The work has frequently been printed in the various editions of Sansovino and is also found in collected editions of Giovio’s Commentario. There is no difference in any of these editions which all end with Selim’s conquest of Egypt in 1517. Cambini was active in Florentine political life until 1498. The Commentario (1529) was published posthumously by Giunta who dedicated it to Andrea Cambini’s son Girolamo. According to Runciman, Cambini consulted survivors of the siege of Constantinople for information for this important work, which was followed in 1541 by a similar work by Paolo Giovio; both works were often published together in later editions. Göllner writes that the work is of particular interest because of the description it gives of events at the turn of the 16th century and for the interesting details that are given about the Ottoman and Venetian connections.
This is an important work on the Turkish Empire until 1517. The description of the siege of Constantinople is apparently based on first-hand accounts given by survivors [Atabey].
Cambini belonged to a group of 16th century Italian historians, which included Paolo Giovio and Giovanni Menavino. They openly praised the Ottoman dynasty’s organisation and conduct. Cambini’s work sparked interest in the origin of the Ottoman dynasty. In his work, he rejected a theory that the Ottomans were descendants of the Trojans. Cambini followed the trend of other contemporary historical works and wrote a history of the Ottomans focused on the personality of the Ottoman sultans and on the military events of their reigns.
Bibliographic references: Blackmer 273 for fourth edition; [Atabey] Sotheby’s I, 86.