Oct 24 at 10:30 AM - Sale 2683 -

Sale 2683 - Lot 149

Estimate: $ 600 - $ 800
Compagnia della Lesina.
Four Italian Titles.
Including:

1) Della Famosissima Compagnia della Lesia Dialogo, Capitoli, e Ragionamenti, Milan: Apresso Melchion Cislagho [per Gratiadio Ferioli], 1601, octavo; nicely preserved in original limp parchment; 6 1/8 x 4 1/8 in.

2) Della Famosissima Compagnia della Lesina Dialogo, Capitoli, Ragionament, Venice: Apresso Gio: Battista Indrich, 1693, 12mo, bound in original parchment boards.

3) Frammenti della Onorabile Compagnia della Lesina Antica, Lucca: Per il Marescondoli, [no date, late 17th-early 18th century], 12mo, bound in original limp paper covers.

4) Capitoli da Osservarsi Inviolabilmente da Tutti i Confrati della Venerabile Compagnia della Lesia, Milan: Gio. Battista Malatesta, [no date, late 17th-early 18th century], octavo, bound in contemporary limp patterned paper wrappers; each title with the awl or lesina on the title page, nice survivals. (4)

The Compagnia della Lesina [company of the awl] was an imaginary academy of misers that originated in Florence in the 16th century. The literature thus inspired included humorous short pieces on the money-saving secrets of a stingy lifestyle. As a result, many details of household management and sometimes gastronomy are treated in these short satirical works.