$6,875
original decorated vellum gilt, decorative endpapers, housed in a velvet-lined morocco hinged box with brass clasp. First miniature edition. Bondy, 95-96: "For many years this tiny book which is only half the size of an ordinary postage stamp was considered the smallest printed from movable type." First published in 1636, some twenty-one years after it was written, the letter, to his friend and patron Madama di Lorenza, argues for the harmony of religion and science. The text is set in the exceedingly small "occhio di mosca" Dantino type created by Salmin for their miniature edition of Dante (1878). Spielmann, 161: "One of the most famous and popular miniature books in existence," 5/8 x 3/8 inch.
Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Date:
2013-07-17