Italian Printer's/Publisher's Devices

Today's post highlights printer's and publisher's devices from our collection of early Italian printed books. I have made an effort in the descriptions to provide information about the books, printers, subject of their devices, and translations of Latin mottos (where applicable).

  

Giambattista Cinzio Giraldi, Hecatommithi. In Venetia: Appresso Fabio, & Agostin Zoppini fratelli, [1584]

2 pts. in 1 v. ;  21 cm (4to) 

Printers: Fabio and Agostino Zoppini (brothers)

Device: Christ among animals

Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, Splandiano: e le sue prodezze, le quali seguono i quattro libri di Amadis di Gaula suo padre. In Venetia: Per Francesco Lorenzini da Turino, [1560]
[8], 270, [2] leaves ; 17 cm. (8vo)

Publisher: Francesco Lorenzini of Turin
Device: hand holding sword crowned with laurel and wrapped with a snake, next to reclining bull
Motto: His ducibus ("with these as guides")

Ascanio Piccolomini, Avvertimenti civili. In Fiorenza: Appresso Volcmar Timan, 1609.
[16], 106, [6] p. ;  22 cm. (4to).

Publisher: Volcmar Timan
Device: Laocoön and his sons
Motto: Morte fidem tueor ("I uphold faith by death")

Valerius Maximus, Dictorum factorumque memorabilium libri novem. Venetiis: Apud Joannem Gryphium, [1587]
128 [i.e. 238], [10] leaves ;  15 cm. (8vo) 

Publisher: Giovanni Griffio (fl. 1577-1599)
Device: Griffin
Motto: Virtute duce comite fortuna ("under the guidance of valor, accompanied by good fortune")

Girolamo Ruscelli, Del modo di comporre in versi nella lingua italiana. In Venetia: Appresso gli heredi di Marchiò Sessa, [1587]
[16], 846, [2] p. ;  15 cm. (8vo). 


Publisher: heirs of Melchior Sessa
Device: cat with mouse

Pietro Bembo, Prose di Monsignor Bembo. Impresse in Vinegia: Per Francesco Marcolini, Nel mese di luglio del [1538]
CXIII, [1] leaves ;  21 cm. (4to). 

Printer: Francesco Marcolini (ca.1500-ca.1559) 
Device: time, truth, and [perhaps] hypocrisy
Motto: Veritas filia temporis ("truth is the daughter of time")
MS Note: "tre cose fanno guidare aiuto: l'impeto del fuoco: la forsa d'nemia; et La vicina"

Lettere di principi. In Venetia: Appresso Giordano Ziletti, [1562]
[4], 219 [i.e. 220] leaves ;  22 cm. (4to). 

Printer: Giordano Ziletti
Device: star
Motto: Inter omnes ("among all [persons]")

Francesco Petrarca, Il Petrarcha: con la spositione di M. Giovanni Andrea Gesualdo. In Venetia per Domenico Giglio, [1553]
[22], 346, [72] leaves : ill. ; 22 cm. (8vo)








Printer: Domenico Giglio


Device: vase with initials "D.G.F.," surrounded by sea-goats ("the symbolism of these is obscure" according to A.J. Butler, "The Gioliti and their Press at Venice," Transactions of the Bibliographical Society (1909),p. 98)


Motto: Sic semper ero ("I will always be thus")

Francesco Petrarca, Il Petrarca con l'espositione di m. Alessandro Velutello. In Venetia: [1579]
[12], 213, [3] leaves :  ill. ;  21 cm. (4to).


Publishers: heirs of Giacomo Simbeni
Motto: Vigilat nec fatiscit ("he watches and doesn't tire")

Device: stork holding stone (with manuscript tracing on reverse of leaf)