Luminario. An Introduction To The Italian Writing-books of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (With SIGNED Letter from the Author) by Osley A. S - 1972

Niuwkoop: Miland Publishers. Fine in Good+ dust jacket. 1972. Limited Edition of 800 copies; First Printing. Hardcover. Small Folio. First Edition, First Printing. One of a Limited Edition of 800 copies only. Beige hessian-style buckram over boards, spine lettering in brown. A splendid, virtually 'as-new' book. However the BASE colour of the dust-jacket only is lightly faded in an 'L' shaped patch (to the spine and top of the front) where it has been exposed to the light, but all titling is clear and deep. The d/j is also reinforced with clear archive tape (on the reverse) as there is some small loss to the top of the spine and a small triangle of loss to the top of the rear d/j cover. The d/j is now in a new protective clear - removable - bookfilm plastic cover and looks VG. Top edge pale blue-grey. Remaining page fore-edges very clean. Internally (xiii) + (1) + 173 pp. With 116 listed full page plates (facsimiles) , & 13 un-numbered vignettes. Numerous tables. With writing specimens taken from Italian calligraphic books of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Plus (Appendix 1) - A check- list of first editions of 16th and 17th century Italian writing books and (Appendix II) a contribution on the iconography of the frontispiece of Curione's Lanotomia (1588). Selected bibliography and index. A reference volume on Italian calligraphy books of the Renaissance and the Baroque age. The work is also a fascinating study of the ancient book as a work of art. This copy has a small printed card included saying 'With Best Wishes From Arthur Osley'. Also INCLUDED IS A MANUSCRIPT LETTER, sent later in 1983, from the Author to Joyce Irene Whalley (late of the Victoria and Albert Museum) - also an author, who was the former owner of this book, and who is included in the Acknowledgements by Osley for help with this book. A facinating book with the added Extra of a letter from the author and a very good provenence. Text mainly in English. See Images. ; Folio 13" - 16" tall .