La vera regola dello scrivere utile à giovani

Bassano: Si vende in Bassano al Negozio Remondini, ca, 1680. ?FIRST EDITION (conforming to the Getty copy, see below.). Hardcover. Fine. Modern binding using 18th-century patterned paper over thin boards. Title and first leaves soiled, title and second leaf with small restoration to blank upper corner; a few minor repairs to the corners of the next two plates. Plate two with 3 tiny holes repaired. Light creases to final plate. Plate 3 with evidence of a crack in the printing plate. Six copies located in North America: Columbia, Getty, Art Institute of Chicago, Newberry, Harvard, LC. A very rare set of writing models prepared for the use of young students ("utile à giovani"). Each plate is signed by Agostino Tensini, master calligrapher and author of the 1668 "Le meraviglie della penna".

"Rarissimo, bellissimo libro di calligrafia con qualche decina di graziose vignette e caricature in calligrafia" (Bonacini).

Baroque taste is evident in this book, both in the type of writing and in the creative and imaginative decorations of the borders, which feature animals (birds, dogs, insects, snails, snakes, etc.), as well as putti, angels, fantastic half-human creatures, musicians, etc. all executed with the same pen line.

Bonacini, "Arti scrittorie", recognizes two editions of this album, the present one, which is difficult to date, and one apparently from the late 18th century consisting of only 14 plates. However, such a late issue is not mentioned by any other bibliography. It seems more plausible to suggest the second half of the 17th century as the possible date when the plates were engraved, since this time period corresponds to the first decades of activity of the Remondini printing shop in Bassano.

"Bonacini ("Arti scrittorie" 1860-1861), lists two eds., one published ca. 1680, the other ca. 1800 (perhaps 1798). The present copy has 16 plates like the earlier ed., rather than 14 like the later; and the imprint agrees with that cited for the earlier ed. But the title includes the words "utile ai giovani," lacking in the earlier title as Bonacini cites it, and the present copy is oblong 4to, the format of the later ed., rather than small folio. The plate used to print leaf 3 is cracked. The Getty copy has the signature of Giacomo Formento on the front cover, together with a date that appears to be 1789. This reading would support assigning the present copy to the earlier ed. Engraved title. Sixteen numbered plates, each signed by Agostino Tensini, most with calligraphic drawings of figures, animals, etc."(Getty).