The Officina Bodoni, Montagnola, Verona: Books Printed by Giovanni Mardersteig on the Hand Press, 1923-1977

British Library, London, first edition, 1978. Printed patterned wrappers, 4to, 25 cm,. 96 pp, ills (some colour). 98 entries. Catalogue of an exhibition held in the King's Library, British Library Reference Division, 9 August-22 October 1978. "The Officina Bodoni, the distinguished private press founded and operated by Giovanni Mardersteig (1892-1977), has over the last half century produced books of outstanding quality which are admired and collected by connoisseurs of fine book printing. In Montagnola and since 1927 in Verona, Mardersteig, following the tradition of the scholar-printers of the Renaissance, printed on the hand press close on two hundred books, most of which are discussed in this detailed study. Some were edited by Mardersteig himself; some illustrated by noted modern artists; all are remarkable for their impeccable presswork, carried out either by the printer himself or under his close supervision. The earlier books of the Officina Bodoni were, by special permission, printed with types cast from the original matrices of the celebrated printer and type designer Giambattista Bodoni (1740-1813). Mardersteig later extended the repertoire of his type faces to include three he designed himself: Griffo, Zeno, and especially Dante, which was eventually made available for machine composition (and in which this comprehensive illustrated study of the Officina Bodoni is printed). This tribute to Mardersteig is published in connection with the British Library's commemorative exhibition which drew on the largest public and private collections in Britain of the Press's work." - from the blurb. Bookplate and name and date on front inside wrapper, otherwise Near Fine.