Alphabetum Romanum. Translated by R. H. Boothroyd.
Verona: Officina Bodoni, 1960. 8vo. Limited edition. #49 of 50 copies in full brown oasis morocco (there were 350 copies quarter bound). Top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Officina Bodoni device in gilt on the upper cover. Printed on Magnani mould-made paper using Dante 12, 11, and 10 point roman and italic. In morocco-tipped printed paper slipcase as issued. Housed in a felt-lined green cloth folder and matching slipcase by Eric Sweet. Twenty-five hand-coloured letters, with five heliogravure plates and text figures. Officina Bodoni promotional leaf loosely inserted. Outer slipcase partially faded. The book is fine. Item #8623
R. H. Boothroyd's English translation of the original Italian text in Codex Vaticanus Lat. 6852, which contains Feliciano's treatise on the geometric construction of the Roman alphabet (circa 1460). This appears with the capitals in facsimile, hand-coloured by Ameglio Trivella; accompanied by a translation of Giovanni Mardersteig's introduction and bibliographical notes.
'It is the first treatise on the construction of classic Roman inscription letters and also represents the first attempt to construct them within a circle and square. In the days of antiquity these rules were normally observed, but later they were forgotten, and since their rediscovery they have interested the type-designers of all subsequent periods. Moreover, the manuscript of the treatise, now in the Vatican Library, is particularly attractive because each of the letters of the alphabet is painted in two colours.' From the promotional leaf.
'After decades of research, I was able to publish the book - with my introduction, set in my type, printed on my press, and in a manner that does justice to the earliest construction of the alphabet within square and circle.' Giovanni Mardersteig, The Officina Bodoni (1980) p.113.
From the collection of Eric Sweet (1929-2024) a keen collector of Fable and Private Press books from his youngest years until his 90s, and a lifelong student of the book arts: paper, type, illustration and bookbinding. His career began at Brighton College of Art in the 1950s. He then spent some years in London as a lettering artist and typographer for various advertising agencies before a move to Birmingham where he became head of the Birmingham School of Printing. The folder and outer slipcase are by him.
Price: £1,500.00