 |
|
      |
 |
| |
||
Our Books:» Cuneiform Tablet to 16th Century » Renaissance of Calligraphy, 1906-1959  |
|
Oblong octavo. (56) ff. A reprint of Vespasiano's famous handwriting book of 1548, Uno Novo Modo D'Insegnar A Scrivere, with the variant title common to all editions after the first. Consists primarily of woodcut illustrations showing various types of script and alphabets, including a series of elaborate and exotically decorated capitals as well as simpler, geometrically designed miniscules and Roman capitals. The former category, observes Osley, comprises "a set of capitals derived from tree-trunks; another . . . of heavy gothic initials, hung with grotesque masks and providing a scaffolding on which naked cherubs, monkeys, storks and dogs engage in various activities; and a third [with] rather hairy letters in black strapwork."
The examples are followed by instructions on how to prepare the pen as well as a recipe for ink. A Franciscan friar, Amphiareo taught lettering for thirty years, his calligraphy said to have been as esteemed in Venice as was Palatino's in Rome. The "Opera" was his only book. This copy is bound in modern, quarter brown leather and marbled-paper boards, with gilt lettering and decorations to the spine and marbled endpapers. Repair to bottom margin of title-page, where there is also a partly obscured owner's signature; some discoloration or foxing particularly to middle leaves; closed tear to one leaf. A very good copy of a major work in European lettering. Bookplate of Guelfo-Sitta. (Bonacini 59; Osley, Scribes & Sources, p. 99). (21819) $5000.00 |
|
|
||
