Giovanni Nicolo Doglioni was a late-sixteenth, early-seventeenth-century, Venetian historian. Born in Venice to a noble family from the town of Belluno, around 60 miles to the north. He held several offices in Venice and lived a modest life, although it appears his advice was sought by the Council of Ten, one of the most important assemblies in the city.

Among his many interests was the history of Venice and of Belluno and he published numerous works on the subject. This 1606 work is a combination of his studies expanded to cover the history of the world.

This copy was believed by the Royal Librarian, Richard Rivington Holmes, to have been bound, on account of its date, for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of James VI & I. It was one of the books selected by Holmes in 1893 as a fine example of bookbinding in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.

Binding information

Bound in brown calf, with the crowned Stuart Prince of Wales arms within Garter badge to centre of each board, within double gilt fillet frame, with evidence of two fore-edge ties. Both volumes rebacked with new spines, with flat spine divided into six compartments with lettering to second and fourth, others with small stylised lozenge. Fore-edges red with number of volume written on in an unusual orientation.