Catalog of printed matter
Old editions 1500-1900
In 1833, the Riccardiana’s head librarian and priest, Gaspero Bencini, together with the custodian Marco Ciatti, and their assistant Fruttuoso Becchi began compiling the first catalogue of the printed editions owned by this library. By 1838 their work was complete: 23 handwritten folio volumes that recorded all ancient editions except those from the XVI century and the small-size publications (which were catalogued separately).
At present, these volumes record editions from 1500 to around 1900. Over the years, librarians have added new entries, made corrections, and inserted more precise information of various kinds.
Entries in each volume are listed in alphabetical order, which is based on the names of the authors and the titles of their works. In many cases, readers can find references to alternative spellings of the authors’ names and titles of works included in anthologies.
English translation by Megan Krynen (University of Mississippi – ISI Florence) and Elsa Vellone (University of Rochester – ISI Florence). English revision by Claire Chisholm (ISI Florence).