TOMASI, Tomaso (1608-1658). The life of Duke Valentino. Montechiaro: Lucio vero, 1670. Second edition of the first biography dedicated to Cesare Borgia (1475-1507), called the Valentino, composed by the Pesaro clergyman Tomasi. Based on archive documents and coeve chronicles, the work reconstructs the figure of the famous leader and son of Pope Alexander VI (1431-1503), offering a historical portrait significantly more balanced than the polemic tradition that had fueled its legend. Precisely for this reinterpretation of the Borgian story the volume was placed at the Index of forbidden books. For a long time attributed to Gregorio Leti (1630-1701), the work is today unanimously recognized as work of Tomasi; despite the false place of printing in Montechiaro, the bibliographic studies identify the typography of Joan Blaeu in Amsterdam. 12th (140 x 80mm) typographical brand at the frontispiece (negligible strips to the OO charm of the second part without loss of text). Coeva bonding with leather back, decorations and gold titles on the back, red cuts. (1)