1791 ❧ BODONI PRESS. Horace. Opera. Parma: Bodoni, 1791.

1791 ❧ BODONI PRESS. Horace. Opera. Parma: Bodoni, 1791. Folio (432 x 294 mm). Contemporary autumn leaf calf within wide border of floral tolls, corners with heart shaped corner ornaments, spine in seven compartments gilt lettered morocco lettering pieces in two, gilt edges. Provenance: Victor von Stedingk (bookplate). A MONUMENT OF THE BODONI PRESS 'one of the most beautiful specimens of Bodoni's typography' (Dibdin). This magnificent edition is the cornerstone of Giambattista Bodoni's legacy, marking the historic debut of his private press in Parma. Prior to 1791, Bodoni managed the official Stamperia Reale for the Duke of Parma. Edited by the prominent Spanish diplomat and scholar José Nicolás de Azara, this 1791 Horace was the very first classical work Bodoni printed using his own private press and independent equipment. It stands as a pure manifestation of his 'modern' typography. The layout strips away baroque ornamentation to let hyper-crisp vertical stems, extreme hairline contrasts, and expansive, immaculate margins command the page. Brooks 417. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing