Aldine Virgil in italic
The first book set entirely in italic – a small, cheap classic edition in pocket format.
Aldus obtained a monopoly on italic in Venice. The small octavo format made the classics cheap and portable, a forerunner of the paperback. Copies are in the British Library and the Biblioteca Marciana.
Materials: Paper, letterpress
Manufacture: Francesco Griffo cut types after humanist cursive handwriting, with many joined letter pairs.
The sloping, compact italic that saved space.
The capitals are upright – italic capitals came later.