Fanti, Sigismondo.

Palatino, Giovanni Battista. Libro nuovo d'imparare a scrivere tutte sorte lettere antiche e moderne.  Rome: Madonna Girolama de Cartolari, May 1544, woodcut portrait on title-page, woodcut illustrations, full-page woodcut printer's device on verso of final leaf, pen trials on first leaf, some ink marginalia, title-page rather soiled with small portion of lower outer corner cut away, small marginal tear to final leaf
2 works in one volume (Palatino bound first), 4to (200 x 146mm.), seventeenth-century speckled calf gilt, Courtenay crest gilt stamped on upper cover, head and tail of spine chipped with slight loss

Edmund Freake, probably the future bishop of Norwich and Worcester (c. 1516-1591), signature on title-page; The Earls of Devon

Censimento 16 CNCE 40089 and 23838

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Theorica et pratica by Fanti is the first edition of the first printed writing book. The Ferraresian's book begins with the first printed instructions on how to write in a chancery hand. However, the author was unable to provide illustrations to accompany his instructions, since he could not secure a suitably skilled engraver to provide the blocks, and so spaces were left with the intention that a calligrapher would fill them in. However, there are no known copies with these spaces so filled. The remainder of the work illustrates geometrically constructed gothic lower-case letters (two alphabets) and roman capitals. The section on capitals is one of the earliest treatises on the proportions and construction of letter forms.

Palatino (c. 1515-c. 1575), a popular and versatile writing master who harked from Calabria, was a leading intellectual figure in mid-sixteenth century Rome and co-founder of the Academia dello Sdegno. This is the third edition of Palatino's work printed by Cartolari.

Both works are in excellent, crisp condition. The presence of a number of near contemporary signatures, along with pen trials that seem to be employing different styles, suggests that the book was used practically in England in the mid-sixteenth century.