Description:

AN ITALIAN MINIATURE BOOK, "Galileo," LETTER TO MADAMA CHRISTINA DI LORENZA FROM 1615, PUBLISHED BY SALMIN BROTHERS, PADUA, 1895-1897,
ink on paper, using "Fly's eye (Occhio di Mosca)," type, the type cut by Antonio Farina originally in 1834 and cast in 1850 by Giacomme Gnocchi of Milan, published by Salmin Brothers of Padua, "Padua Tipogr. Salmin 1896," Art Nouveau style gilt embossed cream velum cover, gilt titled spine, "Galileo," with a micro portrait of Galileo, 205 pages, and marbled interior boards, 3/4" x 1/2"; housed in a modern gilt black leather slipcase, height: 2 3/4", width: 2 1/2", depth: 1".

  • Provenance: The Print Museum, Houston, Texas; McWhirter Miniature Book Collection.
  • Exhibited: Loaned to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston for the exhibition, "Bookbinding Uncovered: Materials, Techniques, and Artistic Expression," displayed in the Hirsch Library Reading Room from July 14-October 21, 2021.
  • Literature: "Four Thousand Years of Tiny Treasures," Groller Club, 2006, A. Bromer and J. Edison.
  • Notes: 2 Pt. typeface. Published in Padual by the Salmin Brothers in 1896, the Galileo was until recently considered the smallest book printed from movable types, and remains one of the most renowned miniature books in existence. The text is the Novantiqua, the famous 1615 letter sent by Galileo to his friend and patron Madama di Lorenza. Measuring only 19 mm x 13 mm, the book uses the legendary "Fly's eye type" (Occhio di mosco) previously used by the publishers for their 1878 edition of Dante's Divina Commedia. The type, cut by Antonio Farina in 1834 but never used by him, was cast in 1850 by order of Giacomme Gnocchi of Milan. The typeface is so small, at 2 pt, that it reportedly damaged the eyesight of the typesetter due to the difficulty of working so small.
  • Condition: Some minor wear to book page edges, small cases, handling wear, a pencil inscription above the Galileo portrait, and apparent age.

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