THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE LATE NICOLAS JENSON.

(Chicago: Ludlow Typography Company, November, 1928). 298 x 203 mm. (11 3/4 x 8"). 15, [1] pp.Translated from the Latin by Pierce Butler of the Newberry Library.

Publisher's original cream-colored paper boards, embossed to resemble a 15th century binding. In the original blue buckram dust jacket. ◆Faint spot of foxing to upper board, one leaf with short tear at head edge, otherwise a very fine copy in close to original condition.

This copy of the will of famed Venetian printer Nicolas Jenson (1420-80) was printed in Ernst Detterer's "Nicolas Jenson" typeface, designed to replicate as closely as possible Jenson's original roman type. Detterer studied calligraphy with Edward Johnston, and taught printing history and typography at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he founded the Printing Arts Department. His "Nicolas Jenson" type was designed in 1923, and he and his former pupil R. Hunter Middleton expanded it into the type family "Eusebius" in 1941. In addition to the expected bequeathings of ducats to various churches and other worthy institutions, the will contains intriguing paragraphs where Jenson discusses the disposal of property from his workshop and the printer colleagues who were important to him at the time the will was composed.
(ST10242)

Price: $75.00