Fine long letter in Italian, by the Royal librarian of the Brera signed, to the bibliographer Barthélemy Mercier de Saint Léger.

CARLINI, Carlo

Published by Milan, 28 May, 1788

About this Item

Folio (331 x210mm), pp.3, written in a clean and legible hand, with many notes in French by the recipient; fold marks, a little foxing to paper, else fine. A fine bibliographical letter on library matters, from Carlo Carlini, Royal Librarian at the Brera in Milan, to his fellow bibliographer Barthélemy Mercier de Saint Léger. Carlini mentions his search for Terentianus, Maurus De Literis (1497 or 1503), Antonio Coranzano, Proverbii (1525) and Luca Paccioli Divina Proportione (1509) or Summa de Arithmetica (1494 or 15230, two of which are mentioned in the Rothelin catalogue and the Cornzano also mentioned by Tiraboschi, but none in the Royal Library. He also comments on an elusive book by G. Botta, De Canum & educatione, unlisted in Argelati or Mazzuchelli and his frustration of locating a similar sounding title, only to find it was in Greek. Carlini also writes of his work on books printed before 1520, his friendship with the Cavalier d'Elci, and various incunables. He comments on some of Mercier de Saint-Léger's bibligraphical publications and suggests a few corrections. Mercier de Saint Léger (1734 - 1799), abbot and bibliographer, who published extensively on the subject, noted at the head of the first page 'Rep le 23 aout 1788 par le professeur danois Olivarius, et envoye le catalogue de Soubise'. The Brera library, was established in Milan on the instigation Maria Theresa, who decided Milan needed a general library and that the Ambrosiana was 'rich in manuscripts' but not in books. Carlini was its first custode, after it opened to the public in 1786 and produced its first catalogue. Seller Inventory # 3839

Bibliographic Details

Title: Fine long letter in Italian, by the Royal ...

Publisher: Milan, 28 May

Publication Date: 1788