Contains all known first edition imprints of Dante's major and minor works. In editions of the Divine Comedy, the collection holds more than 70% of the incunabular imprints and virtually all 16th century editions, including some 16th century imprints not listed in bibliography of the Enciclopedia Dantesca. Equally, the possession of the three rare 17th century editions is followed by all major editions of the 18th, 19th, and 20th century. Translated editions are abundant in all the modern Western and Eastern European languages not to mention editions in the Italian dialects, Sanskrit, Latin, Provencal, Catalan, etc. Of special note are some mid-14th century MS fragments (i.e., Gaddiano), the first printing of the Foligno edition, first critical editions, first Florentine edition, and an unpublished 16th century bound MS. of Della Lana's Comentum translated byAlberico de Rosciate with the DC text from the 14th century MS of Bettino de'Pili. Prominent editions and translations of the minor works are equally abundant reflecting their popularity throughout time. Facsimile editions of important Dante MS have been collected whenever avaliable. Critical material reflects the entire historical trajectory and evolution of Italian, European, and American Dante studies. This includes the works of 14th century dantisti Bambagioli, Benvenuto da Imola, Della Lana, Boccaccio, the Ottimo Comento, and lesser known commentaries along with innumerable critical evaluations of these figures and works. Critical editions of Dante's works among the 15th and 16th century commentators include Landino, Vellutello, Daniello, Gelli, Castelveltro, Trissino and many others not to mention a fine number of original p̀ro' and c̀ontra' Dante imprints from Bembo on through the early modern period. The Italian critical school from Vico, Alfieri, Foscolo, Leopardi, Troya, De Santcis, Rajna, Del Lungo, Parodi, Barbi, Croce, etc. is abundantly represented along with the foremost collections of Lectura Dantis series. The trans-European dantisti include Schlegel, Carlyle, Witte, Vossler, Scartazzini, Auerbach, Vernon, Barlow, Moore, Toynbee, Gilson, Pézard, along with the major figures of the American school. A special effort at Cornell has been taken to keep abreast with critical publications and Dante editions since the post-War period. Along with a substantial number of Dante serials dating since the 19th century, holdings include the major Dante journals, reviews, and conference publication, plus a wide range of up-to-date as well as obscure bibliographical material. Critical material and articles issued from the 1865, 1921, and 1965 Dante centennials are plentiful. The vast majority of Dante miscellanea and memorabilia is of 19th century origin. These items include poetic and lyrical works inspired by or dedicated to the memory of Dante, commemorative postcards, monument dedications, dantesque illustrations, plays, musical scores, photograph albums, newspaper clipping albums, commemorative pins, medals, etchings, plaster busts, monument illustrations, and publications and offprints generated around many Dante curiosities.
