There are many treasures in the Guido Mazzoni Pamphlet Collection. One very fine discovery is this 1623 first edition of the artist Michelangelo Buonarroti's poetry. It was published 60 years after Michelangelo's death by his grandson, whose name was also Michelangelo Buonarroti (Michelagnolo, in the Florentine vernacular), and contained poems never before published. The verses you see here were dedicated to the poet Vittoria Colonna, one of his greatest loves and one of his most intelligent colleagues.

As they explain in the preface, the intent of Michelangelo's heirs was to publish a definitive volume of verses as an antidote to the many spurious editions produced since his death. Michelangelo's grandson goes on to say that these verses were in large part taken from a manuscript in the Vatican Library, most of which is in his grandfather's hand.

This edition, still in its contemporary binding, was printed by one of the most famous printers of their day, the Giunti family, whose device on the title page included the Florentine giglio, or lily. These fine productions are still known to book collectors as "Giuntine."