Johannes Pontanus - De bello Neapolitano- First edition - 1509

(History;first editions;Literature; Neaples ) I
PONTANUS, JOHANNES IOVIANUS (1426-1503)
Pontani de bello neapolitano et de sermone (colophon: Neapoli, ex officina Sigismundi Mayr: artificis diligentissimi: mense Maio MDVIIII atque omnia quidé ex archetypis: assistente (ut in aliis) P. Summontio) 1509
§ folio (310 x 210.); 55 (of 56) leaves, signature: A-F1-8, G1-7 (of 8, missing G8, blank). Scattered slight waterstains on blank margins , fascinating binding made with an antiphonary leaf, some contemporary handwritten notes in sepia ink, fine copy on large and strong paper
FIRST EDITION of the De Bello neapolitano; the two parts were published separately in May (de bello neapolitano) and August (De sermone) 1509, but, confusingly, under the title Pontani de bello neapolitano et de sermone the first work and De sermone et De bello Neapolitano the second one. Unfinished at the time of Pontano;’s death, in 1503, the present work was edited and published by the Neapolitan humanist and Pontano’s close friend Pietro Summonte (who was the renowned author of the first history of the Kingdom of Neaples ever printed). The work deals with the war of succession (1459-1465) waged by Ferrante of Aragona (Ferdinand I of Neaples) against Giovanni d'Angiò and the rebel barons of the Kingdom of Naples. Pontano wrote this work during a long span of time, possibly since 1465, but only in 1495, when finally free from political duty, began to revise it for publication; interestingly, Pontano show in the last additions an increasing interest for the places affected by the war and he research and report the ancient, especially medieval history and even the mithology related to the towns and villages that he describes. Also interesting the accuracy of the topographical details given by the author. The sources used by Pontano for his history of the war were not only the official correspondence on the subject, but his direct experience as he witnessed many of the facts when at the king’s service.
REF. Bruno Figliuolo: Pontano, Giovanni In: Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani; Lorenzo Miletti Il De bello Neapolitano di Pontano e le città del Regno di Napoli In: Fulvio Delle Donne e Antonietta Iacono (Editors) Linguaggi e ideologie del Rinascimento monarchico aragonese (1442-1503) Forme della legittimazione e sistemi di governo, Napoli, FedOA - Federico II University Press, 2018, pp. 63-79; Francesco Senatore: Pontano e la guerra di Napoli In: Mario del Treppo (editor) Condottieri e uomini d’arme nell’Italia del Rinascimento Napoli, GISEM, Liguori editore, 2001, pp. 279-309; Fausto Nicolini Summonte, Pietro In: Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani