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DAS ROEMISCHE CARNEVAL.
(Montagnola: Officina Bodoni, 1924). 303 x 215 mm. (12 x 8 1/2"). 74, [2] pp, [2] leaves. ONE OF 12 SPECIALLY BOUND COPIES (of a total edition of 224 copies on paper and 6 on vellum).
FINE ORIGINAL CITRON MOROCCO BY THE PUBLISHER (signed on the rear turn-in) covers with double gilt-ruled border and inner panel formed by five closely spaced gilt rules, raised bands, spine with gilt-ruled compartments and gilt titling, turn-ins ruled in gilt, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. In the original felt-lined marbled paper slipcase edged with matching morocco. Red printer's device in colophon. Front pastedown with small brown morocco bookplate featuring a putto carrying a huge bunch of grapes, with the initials "K. F." Mardersteig 6. Front flyleaves a little foxed at edges, otherwise very fine--clean, fresh, and bright internally, with enormous margins, in an unworn binding.
This a beautiful copy of the sixth book issued by Officina Bodoni, Goethe's eyewitness account of the 1788 Roman carnival, printed in "the sprightly decorative type" of Cancelleresco, which our printer considered "eminently suitable, particularly as it seems to have been cut around 1788." An elegant, flowing italic font, Cancelleresco gives us the impression of a private diary, and has the additional advantage of being eminently more readable than most typefaces used for German text. According to Mardersteig's bibliography of Officina Bodoni, Goethe had an excellent view of the "colourful and animated goings-on" of Carneval from his apartment window, but said of his report: "My guiding principle was to allow myself as little involvement as possible and absorb things as objectively as I could." Probably the most important (certainly the longest-lived) 20th century Continental private press, Officina Bodoni was founded in 1922 by Hans Mardersteig, who later changed his first name to Giovanni. Like Sweynheym and Pannartz, the first printers in Italy, Mardersteig was born in Germany, but moved to Italy as an adult and set up his hand press in a small village there. Mardersteig was inspired by Giambattista Bodoni (1740-1813), the Italian royal printer who set up a private press in 1791. Dedicated to creating books of the very highest standard, Bodoni perfected his printing technique, sought out the finest quality paper, and created clear, beautiful types that have been envied and copied for many generations. Mardersteig sought to continue this tradition, with considerable success. Will Carter has called Mardersteig "probably the finest pressman the world has ever seen or is ever likely to see," and it is difficult to overstate the pleasure derived from the precision of the Officina Bodoni books. The special publisher's morocco binding here makes this an unusually desirable copy, since the Officina Bodoni deluxe bindings are not commonly seen in the marketplace. (ST20327)
Price: $6,500.00