La Zaffetta: Raccolta di rarissimi opuscoli italiani degli XV e XVI secoli II

This volume brings together a handful of exceptionally rare Italian pamphlets from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, presented in a carefully produced re‑edition limited to just one hundred numbered copies. Printed in Paris in 1561 by the workshop of Ch. Jouaust, the book mixes round and gothic typefaces, reflecting the transitional printing practices of the era. Accompanying scholarly notes explain the uncertain dating and provenance of the texts, making the collection a valuable resource for anyone fascinated by early modern bibliography and the life of the book.

At its heart is “La Zaffetta,” a single‑chant satirical poem of one hundred fourteen eight‑line stanzas. Written by the Venetian noble Lorenzo Veniero, it narrates the misadventure and punishment of a courtesan named Angela, whose nickname “Zaffetta” derives from a Venetian dialect term for “henchman.” The poem’s witty, razor‑sharp tone and its self‑referential claim to authorship of another controversial work offer a vivid glimpse into the ribald literary culture of Renaissance Venice, inviting listeners to hear the lively rhythm of a long‑lost voice.