OFFICINA BODONI. FELICIANO, Felice. ~ Alphabetum Romanum.
Edited by Giovanni Mardersteig. No. 340 of an edition limited to 400 copies of the English edition - there were also Italian and German editions of 160 copies each. English translation by R.H. Boothroyd. Illustrated with 25 letters of the alphabet all hand coloured by Ameglio Trivella after the original manuscript by Feliciano. Illustrations in the text and 5 heliogravure plates of ancient inscriptions. Set in Mardersteig’s Dante type and printed at his hand press on Magnani mould-made paper. Pp. 140. 8vo., original quarter brown morocco with paper covered boards, Bodoni device and lettering in gilt to upper cover and spine, t.e.g, others uncut. Housed in original decorative light brown paper slipcase with morocco headcaps. A very good copy with the prospectus inserted loose.
Feliciano’s treatise on the geometric construction of the Roman alphabet, circa 1460. Mardersteig contributed an excellent introduction on the revival of the letter-forms in Roman inscription and on Felice Feliciano and his alphabet construction. At the end is a translation of the original treatise into English with the recipes for making coloured inks which followed it.