AUTHOR: GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO

LANGUAGE: ITALIAN

DATE: 1467 AD

PAGE #: 175

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: IN ITALY DURING THE TIME OF THE BLACK DEATH, A GROUP OF SEVEN YOUNG WOMEN AND THREE YOUNG MEN FLEE FROM PLAGUE-RIDDEN FLORENCE TO A DESERTED AVILLA IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF FIESOLE FOR TWO WEEKS. TO PASS THE EVENINGS, EACH MEMBER OF THE PARTY TELLS A STORY EACH NIGHT, EXCEPT FOR ONE DAY PER WEEK FOR CHORES, AND THE HOLY DAYS DURING WHICH THEY DO NO WORK AT ALL, RESULTING IN TEN NIGHTS OF STORYTELLING OVER THE COURSE OF TWO WEEKS. THUS, BY THE END OF THE FORTNIGHT THEY HAVE TOLD ONE HUNDRED STORIES.

THIS MANUSCRIPT WAS ILLUMINATED FOR TEOFILO CALCAGNINI,1441-1488, OF FERRARA, COURTIER OF BORSO D’ESTE, FOR WHICH TADDEO CRIVELLI, 1452-1476, WAS PAID IN 1467. A THREE-LINE INSCRIPTION AT THE END OF THE TEXT HAS BEEN ERASED. THE FRANCISCAN MONASTERY OF SANTO SPIRITO IN REGGIO EMILIA, WITH THEIR EX LIBRIS INSCRIPTIONS: DI S SPIRITO DI REGGIO. PROBABLY ACQUIRED BY THOMAS COKE, EARL OF LEICESTER IN ITALY BETWEEN 1714-1717, SIGNED BY THOMAS WILLIAM COKE, 1754-1842; FORMERLY NORFOLK, HOLKHAM HALL. ACQUIRED BY THE BODLEIAN IN 1981

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.