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SARDINI, Giacomo (18th century). Esame sui principi della Francese et Italiana tipografia ovvero storia critica di Nicolao Jenson. Lucca: "Per contro della Nuova Società Tipografica nella Stamperia Bonsignori," 1796-1798.
3 volumes in one, 2o (375 x 259 mm). Title-pages printed in red and black. 5 engraved plates. Original plain blue-gray wrappers (spine broken, some chips to edges); blue cloth folding case.
FIRST EDITION of this elaborate history of Nicolas Jenson, from his French origins to the establishment of his press in Venice. Much of Sardini's text covers the design of Jenson's type. Of the five plates, two show watermarks of paper Jenson used, two others are related to his type designs and one illustrates coins current in France under Charles VII and Louis XI (Jenson was Master of the Mint in Tours). The entire third portion is a full bibliography of all known books printed by Jenson (including a detailed listing of books erroneously ascribed to his press). Updike notes that the book's "roman and italic type, though still old in style, shows a distinct tendency to what we now call a 'modern face', and also a certain narrowing of the character in the interests of condensation" (Updike, Printing Types, 177). Bigmore & Wyman II, 295 ("the whole work is very beautifully got up"); Fumagalli 485.
3 volumes in one, 2
FIRST EDITION of this elaborate history of Nicolas Jenson, from his French origins to the establishment of his press in Venice. Much of Sardini's text covers the design of Jenson's type. Of the five plates, two show watermarks of paper Jenson used, two others are related to his type designs and one illustrates coins current in France under Charles VII and Louis XI (Jenson was Master of the Mint in Tours). The entire third portion is a full bibliography of all known books printed by Jenson (including a detailed listing of books erroneously ascribed to his press). Updike notes that the book's "roman and italic type, though still old in style, shows a distinct tendency to what we now call a 'modern face', and also a certain narrowing of the character in the interests of condensation" (Updike, Printing Types, 177). Bigmore & Wyman II, 295 ("the whole work is very beautifully got up"); Fumagalli 485.