Unsigned, Title-page

Title-page, 1555

Unsigned

RA Collection: Art

A first edition of the first book printed about tennis. Tennis was one of the most popular hand ball games for more than four centuries from the 16th century onwards, existing in a variety of versions. Scaino da Salo was an Italian priest welcomed into the ecclesiastical court of Alfonso d' Este. The rules for different types of games and their various interpretations often led to arguments and it was apparently after one such discussion with Alfonso that Scaino decided to pursue writing a book which formalised and detailed the rules of the game.

Object details

Title
Title-page
Drawn by
Published by
From
Antonio Scaino, Trattato del giuoco della palla ... diviso in tre parti. - Vinegia : apresso Gabriel Giolito de'Ferrari, et fratelli, 1555.
Date
1555
Object type
Title-page
Place of Publication
Venice
Medium
Letterpress and woodcut
Dimensions

145 mm x 100 mm

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
16/1405
This image is from a book

Trattato Del Giuoco Della Palla Di Messer Antonio Scaino Da Salò, Diviso In Tre Parti. Con Due Tavole, L'Una De Capitoli, l'atra delle cose piu notabili, che in esso si contengono. Con Privilegio. - In Vinegia: [1555]

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