Beschreibung:

TAGLIENTE, Giovanni Antonio (1465/70-after 1527). Lo presente libro insegna la vera arte delo excellente scribere de diverse varie sorti de litere . Venice: Giovanni Antonio and Pietro Nicolini da Sabbio, 1546. 4° (201 x 133mm). 28 letterpress or woodcut leaves, a single gathering, the first 14 leaves signed A-O. 38 full-page and 2 half-page calligraphic samples, one sample printed in the text, 4 other woodblocks (writing implements; emblems; three hearts; an astronomer), woodblocks cut by Eustachio Celebrino. One early annotation. (Some light spotting, two tiny wormholes.) 20th-century crushed maroon morocco ruled in gilt, gilt spine, gilt turn-ins, gilt edges. Tagliente's was one of the most popular writing manuals of its day. 'A calligrapher par excellence ' (Wardrop), he taught calligraphy at the Venetian Chancery and this, his main work, was intended for a diplomatic audience. Lo presente libro was first published in 1524; three of the woodblocks used here first appeared in 1544 (the four emblems, the motto with 3 hearts, and the astronomer). Cf. Wardrop 'A Note on Giovanantonio Tagliente', Signature (new series), 10, 1950.