VITA DEL GRAN MICHELAGNOLO BUONARROTI. 1568 [Life of the great Michelagnolo Buonarroti ]

Florence: In Fiorenza Nella Stamperia de' Giunti 1568, 1568. The title page reads in full: "VITA DEL GRAN MICHELAGNOLO BUONARROTI. Scritta da M. Giorgio Vasari, Pittore & Architetto Arentino. Con le sue Magnifiche Essequie stategli fatte in Fiorenza. Dall' Achademia Del Disegno. Con Licenza, & Privilegio. In Fiorenza Nella Stamperia de' Giunti 1568." Bound in the original full vellum.VERY RARE special offprint or separatum edition of Vasari's 1568 biography of Michelangelo, considered "rarissimo" or extreme rarity bibliographically. It is possibly the first example of an offprint following the invention of printing, or at least among the few earliest examples. There are only a small number of recorded examples which suggests a very limited print run. This separatum was issued during the course of printing of Vasari's 2nd edition Vite by the press of Giunti in Florence. The text is preceeded by a new frontispiece leaf and a new dedicatory letter to Alessandro di Ottaviano de' Medici, who later became Pope Leo XI in 1605. The title page has an architectural border with putti and grotesques, the Medici arms in the upper part, and a view of Florence with cartouche set into the lower part of the border. The beginning of the text is illustrated with a woodcut medallion portrait of Michelangelo within an architectural border. Giunti fleur-de-lis device with cherubs and 1568 date on the last page. Early or possibly contemporary name and inscription on the title page with some underlining and a few marginal notes, all in old faded brown ink. Some spotting and browning of text as expected but has survived in remarkably nice condition. [see attached photos] . First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good.