[THE FIRST PRINTED SYRIAC & ARMENIAN GRAMMAR & ALPHABET / THE FIRST ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTION OF BASSOON] Introductio in Chaldaicam lingua[m], Syriaca[m], atq[ue] Armenica[m], dece[m] alias linguas. . Characterum differentiu Alphabeta, circiter quadraginta,

ALBONESI, TESEO AMBROGIO DEGLI (Theseus Ambrosius) (1469-1540).

[Pavia, G. M. Simonetta], 1539.

Complete title: [THE FIRST PRINTED SYRIAC & ARMENIAN GRAMMAR & ALPHABET / THE FIRST ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTION OF BASSOON] Introductio in Chaldaicam lingua[m], Syriaca[m], atq[ue] Armenica[m], & dece[m] alias linguas. Characterum differentiu Alphabeta, circiter quadraginta, & eorudem inuicem conformation. Mystica et cabalistica quaplurima scitu Digna. Et descriptio ac simulachru[m] Phagoti Asranij. [i.e., Introduction to the Chaldean, Syriac, and Armenian languages, and ten other tongues. On the differences of characters, alphabets (about forty) and their mutual relationships. Many mystical and cabalistic matters worth knowing. And a description and illustration of the Asranian bassoon].

Bound in contemporary vellum. Demy 8vo. (21 × 15 cm). In Latin. 215 leaves, with woodcut illustrations. Title printed in red and black, featuring a woodcut border and two near full-page woodcuts in the text. Red-sprinkled edges. Front hinge split, spine heavily worn with remnants of the gilt title and a contemporary label still present. Ownership inscription in a contemporary hand to the upper margin of the title page. Some worming to the inner margins. Overall, a good, complete copy, though the binding requires restoration.

Exceptionally rare first edition of this earliest printed work on Syriac and Armenian grammar and script, notable also for containing the earliest illustrated account of the fagotto (bassoon). The instrument, invented by the author's uncle, Afranio degli Albonesi, was first demonstrated publicly in 1532 and is described in this 16th-century book in detail.

The Introductio originated as a unified compendium of grammatical rules for the Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, and Ethiopian languages. Its composition proved challenging, occupying the author for over a decade, from 1527 until 1539, the year of its first publication, issued on March 1st by Giovanni Maria Simonetta. A second edition followed shortly thereafter, dated Quinto Kalendis Aprilis (March 28).

The main portion of the work (fols. 9-192) is devoted to an introduction to Chaldean, Syriac, and Armenian. This is followed by an appendix (fols. 193-213) featuring a presentation of various alphabets, including brief notes on Coptic (referred to as "Jacobite") and Ethiopic (misidentified as "Indian"). The appendix also includes remarks on the origins of European languages, with particular emphasis on the languages of Italy and a discussion of Etruscan.

Teseo Ambrogio degli Albonesi (c. 1469-1540) was an Italian humanist, orientalist, and linguist best known for his pioneering work in the study of Eastern languages during the Renaissance. A native of Pavia, he entered the service of Cardinal Bernardino López de Carvajal and later became canon of the cathedral in Pavia. Albonesi’s principal scholarly contribution lies in his early and systematic engagement with Oriental languages, particularly Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, and Geʽez (Ethiopic). His landmark work, Introductio, was among the first printed grammars of Syriac and Armenian, and one of the earliest Western attempts to classify and describe Semitic and Eastern Christian scripts and languages.

Adams I, 957.; Brunet I, 229.; Wikipedia.; Smitskamp 240.; Edit 16.; CNCE 816.