The Cloven Viscount (1952/1962) First Edition Reference

Il visconte dimezzato (Einaudi, 1952) is the first of Calvino’s Our Ancestors trilogy — a fable about Viscount Medardo of Terralba, split in two by a Turkish cannonball during a Crusade. His good half and evil half wander separately, each wreaking havoc in their own way. The English translation was published by Random House in 1962.

First Edition Identification

Italian: Einaudi, 1952. English: Random House, 1962. Part of the Our Ancestors trilogy translation by Archibald Colquhoun.

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed Italian first: $400–$1,000
• Signed English first: $150–$400
• Unsigned Italian first: $100–$300

The Our Ancestors trilogy represents Calvino’s transition from neorealism to the fantastical mode that would define his career. The Cloven Viscount is the shortest and most fable-like of the three.