Bibliopolas Socios; Bonfadini, Bartolomeo

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City

Rome [Romae]

Exact Date

1585

Description

Mercury, walking in a flowery meadow, holds a cornucopia in his left arm and a violin in his right. Motto: Ex Concordia rerum opulentia .

"...the brand was created especially for the new company that underwrote Apud Bibliopolas Socios which was formed in 1573 by Domenico Basa with booksellers Giorgio Ferrari, Brianzi Brianza, which drew up an agreement for the press and the sale of books published by the Roman people. The meaning of the motto and obvious, Mercury and always the protector of businesses; with the addition of a new element, the violin, they mean the harmony between the members and the cornucopia abundance and prosperity that they hope the new entity."

Last leaf has regestum with vignette and includes additional publisher's information: Romae, typis Bartholomaei Bonfadini, & Titi Diani. MDLXXXV.

"...the porcupine emblem, like the animal who knows how to defend against attacks, and was made famous by King Louis XII of France, who used it with the motto Cominus et eminus relating why porcupines hurt both those who bump into it and those who threaten it; in fact the shaking launches its quills that hit the opponent as lightning. The Bonfadini has always used the porcupine as its brand and gave the meaning of someone who only hurts if bitten."

Excerpts tr. from Vacarro, Emerenziana. Le marche dei tipografi ed editori italiani del secolo XVI nella Biblioteca angelica di Roma. Firenze: Olschki, 1983.

From: Folengo, Giambattista, 1490-1559. Joannis Baptistae Folengii Mantuani monachi casinatis ordinis s. Benedicti in omnes Dauidicos psalmos doctissima, ac planè duina commentaria... Romae, Apud Bibliopolas Socops, M D LXXXV