Un fantasma di singolare concretezza: Sabastiano da Venezia editore della prima 'Arcadia'

Sabastiano da Venezia, a soldier by profession, claims to be responsible for the first edition of Sannazaro’s ‘Arcadia’ (Venice, Bernardino Vercellese, 1502). The seeming irreconcilability of the two professions is the main reason why Sabastiano has not been the object of study or has been thought a fictitious name invented by the printer, who printed the book without the consent of the author, in order to avert possible criticism from Sannazaro. This paper is based on documents which show on the contrary that Sabastiano really existed and did perform his editorial task as stated. It has been possible to trace other editorial works of his and to show that he owned two vernacular MSS of Giovanni Villani and Petrarch, thus constructing the profile of a rather original lover of literature whose place in history has so far been largely overlooked.