Il Cantico dei Cantici

This is one of 356 numbered copies letterpress-printed on pure cotton acid free paper made in Sicily. 

Caslon type used for the hand typesetting of this book (© photo Ottavio Atti):

The “Song of Songs” or “Song of Solomon”, known also as "Canticle of Canticles", is a book of both the Christian and Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). It is a love poem in the form of a dialogue between a young woman and her lover. A third part, or chorus, occasionally addresses the lovers.

Italian translation by Guido Ceronetti, made expressly for this edition.

Volume in 8vo oblong format (12x26 cm), of 100 pages entirely typeset by hand in original Caslon type. 
The steel punches of this precious and rare type were hand-cut by William Caslon in London in the first half of the 18th century. These types, cast in an alloy of lead, tin and antimony, are part of the original equipment of Tallone’s typographic studio, which has been continuously in operation since the 18th century.

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Add a personalized message for the receiver of your gift. We will print it beautifully, for free, and ship the gift and the message directly to the receiver’s address.

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Moreover, the book comes in the following special editions:

- 122 copies on pure cotton Magnani, hand-made in Pescia, Tuscany;

- 18 copies on Chinese hand-made paper;

- 5 copies on cream-color laid paper made in Fabriano in the 1960s.

The volume is housed in a hand-made slipcase and box, custom made to an exact size, whose exteriors are covered with Ingres paper. The book title is letterpress-printed on the slipcase’s spine.

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The number of movable types handled for the typesetting of this book, makes it an exceptional endeavor in contemporary fine printing.

Printed on very fine paper and sewn by hand, this collector’s edition is a sophisticated gift meant to last over time and designed to give the best reading experience possible.

This edition is part of the collections of major libraries, in Italy and abroad.

Tallone’s typographic studio has been continuously in operation since the 18th century, and its vast endowment of original foundry types and presses is still in use.
Neither monotype nor linotype are used. These typesetting systems from a keyboard are often passed off as manual typography. The Tallone Press also does not print from plastic plates derived from digital compositions.