Reggimento De Padre Di Familia, Di M. Francesco Tommasi Da Colle Di Val D'elfa Toscano: Medica, E Filosofo, All'ilustre Sig. Guilio Pallavicino Gentilhuomo Genovese. Tommasi, M. Francesco Rare Books

Hard cover 4to (measuring 6 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches,) in the original full vellum case, which appears to have been "updated," perhaps in the eighteenth century, with an onlaid additional layer of vein-painted parchment to resemble tree calf. (Perhaps made to match a collector's library.) An old calligraphic red ink title is lettered along the bottom of the text block, while the spine has the title, in a different hand, neatly lettered in black ink. Two woodcut printer's devices are present, with the initials "GM,": one on the title page measuring 1 3/4 x 2 inches, and a larger one upon the book's final page measur. 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. The title page block depicts a masted ship sailing away on windy seas being aided by four blowing clouds, and a smiling sun amidst architectural festoons flanked by two winged female harpies; the larger printer's device at the rear of the book, however, has the scene reversed with the ship arriving, and the landmarks, wind and sun in mirror image. Also the female harpies are replaced with two flanking male satyrs. An identical motto to both in Latin: Et potest et vult (ready and able).The text contains 13 detailed woodcut historiated capitals. (The largest one illustrating the "T" may contain a portrait of Grand Duke Cosimo I de'Medici seated upon a throne-like seat, surrounded by fellow Florentines, and some of his mercenary halberd-bearing guard, the Lanzi. This is a conjecture based on visual similarity to contemporary portrait busts by Bandini, Bronzino and others.) COLLATION: pp. [80] 1-561 [3] ( 2 Pages are mis-numbered by printer after p. 245, and again after p. 333). a4-k4, A4-Z4, Aa4-Zz4, AAa4-ZZz4, AAaa4, [2]. Complete.**CONDITION: Very Good Plus Antiquarian Condition, including a single old worm track at both hinges, some old water stains at lower edge (not affecting text) and some occasional foxing (usually at top margin of affected pages) and a small number of browned text areas. Many fresh pages overall, however. Binding is firm and generally clean. One former institutional stamp, and neat inventory notes to both paste downs in old ink, pencil and blue china marker(?) **The DEDICATION of the work is to the Illustrious Guilio Pallavicino "gentleman of Genoa." Married into the aristocratic Doria family, Pallavicino had, by 1584, collected a sizable library consisting of more than 2000 volumes. He is described as a historian and writer, and patron of Genoa's humanistic Accademia degli Addormentati (The Academy of Sleepers) between 1563 and 1587. By 1600, he and his brother had donated a church, the Chiesa del Gesù, to the City of Genoa. The Pallavicino/Doria families were also patrons of the artist Peter Paul Rubens when he came to Genoa in 1600, commissioning a number of his paintings. Pallavino's literary interests brought him into contact with the Author.(A. Orlando, Trecanni)**CONTENTS: Dedication letters and verses to Pallavicino are by the author, and include others from Girolamo Catena, Cesare Mazzutelli, commendatory verses from M. Piero Contestabile, doctor of medicine ; M. Cristoforo Castellett, poet and playwright, and M. Averelio Orsi, the Court poet for Cardinale Alessandro Farnese, (and brother to the Vatican artist and mosaicist, Prosero Orsi; Prospero was also a collegue of Caravaggio.) Also a letter by Alberto Picchinesi, lawyer. Other contents incl. Index, and Table of Contents by subject and by Chapter headings. Libra Primo: The moral duties of a man toward his wife and children. Definitions of family, correct behavior and decorum, education, work life and the like. Libre Secunda: This is agricultural in nature and more home economics related. What kinds of industry is a man naturally inclined to. How to store the seeds of various plants: almonds, peaches, melons and apples, figs etc. **AUTHOR of this work FRANCESCO TOMMASI (fl. 1575-1589) was a medical doctor born in Colle Val d'Elsa, a village midway between Florence and Siena to the south. CERL cnp02263700. **The in