The printed book is an artifact produced with the use of precise technology. The printed book is also one of the most efficient media for the storage and transmission of knowledge. The printed book is a commodity that is conveyed by the book trade by obeying commercial rules and practices. The teaching of History of the book and publishing analyzes these three aspects of the book allows to fully understand the mechanisms of production and dissemination of the book with particular attention to the hand press period.
The teaching of History of the book and publishing aims to transmit the knowledge and fundamental skills for the study of the complex mechanisms behind the production and dissemination of a printed book in the XV-XX centuries. Those mechanisms will be analyzed from different points of view and, in particular, a) description of the manufacturing process of the printed book, above all, in the era of manual printing; b) analysis of the artifacts from a diachronic point of view highlighting the developments of printing and publishing over the centuries; c) illustration of the economic and social mechanisms that characterize publishing over the centuries; c) illustration of the economic and social mechanisms that characterize publishing.
Participation in educational activities and/or individual study will enable the student enrolled for 6 cfu to:
For students enrolled for 9 cfu the learning outcomes will be, in addition to those listed above, the following:
No prerequisite is required for this teaching, except for normal historical and literary knowledge.
Lectures with the direct involvement of students in the analysis of the artifacts that will be used during the lesson.
Lessons will be held in person.
Attendance at lessons and activities is highly recommended. Non-attending students are asked to contact the teacher to arrange a different program.
All the students are requested to register on the Aulaweb.
The history of the book: definition, subject and methods. The early printed book. The invention of movable type printing: writing media, typefaces, typographic ink, the printing press.
The stages of book production. The conception and design, printing charges, dedication, printing company. Publisher and printer. Publishing brand. Publishing contract.
The manufacture of the book: the printer, the typesetter, the typesetter, the book format, the printing form. The typographic case, the form and format, the formula of marking. The dealer, the press and pressmen, printing operations.
The fascicle: edition, issue impression, and state.
The component parts of the book: the title page, the antiporta, the preliminaries, the colophon.
The book ornamentation: decoration and illustration. The printed page: running title, callbacks, shelfmark, the page size.
The privilege system.
The packaging of the book: bookbinding.
The dissemination of the book: the book trade: booksellers, stationers, colporteurs.
Bibliographical control and civil and religious censorship.
The fruition of the book: readers, collectors and users.
The evolution of the book product.
– Marco Santoro, Storia del libro italiano: libro e società in Italia dal Quattrocento al nuovo millennio. Nuova ed. riv. e ampliata. Milano: Bibliografica, 2008. (Bibliografia e biblioteconomia, 83).
– Lorenzo Baldacchini, Il libro antico: storia, diffusione e descrizione. 3. ed. - Roma: Carocci, 2019. (Studi superiori; 1168).
The texts that will be analysed will be made available on Aulaweb and in class.
Ricevimento: Students are advised to request an appointment by writing to Graziano.Ruffini@edu.unige.it
GRAZIANO RUFFINI (President)
STEFANO GARDINI
VALENTINA RUZZIN (Substitute)
16 September 2025
The timetable for this course is available here: EasyAcademy
Oral examination
The colloquium will ascertain the acquisition of the theoretical and methodological aspects of the history of the book, as well as the ability to deal with the analysis of some of the artefacts analysed in class and to recall the fundamental aspects of their production. It will also test the ability to use the correct technical terminology.
The basic threshold is considered to have been reached in cases where the student demonstrates that he/she has substantially understood the theoretical and methodological aspects, knows at least the basics of the history of books and publishing, knows how to move correctly in front of a specimen and uses the technical terminology necessary for the purpose.
The threshold of excellence is deemed to have been reached in cases where the student demonstrates a profound mastery of theoretical and technical aspects, has mastered aspects of the history of books and publishing, confidently tackles the analysis of a specimen, being able to deduce autonomously the choices made technically for its realisation, and masters the technical terminology of the discipline.
Erasmus students with insufficient knowledge of Italian may agree on a substitute bibliography and take the examination in French.
Students with disabilities or DSA in order to be able to request adaptations for their examinations must first enter their certification on the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the ‘Students’ section. The documentation will be checked by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA Sector (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111). Subsequently, at least 10 days before the date of the exam, an e-mail must be sent to the teacher with whom you will be taking the exam, including in copy knowledge of both the School's Referring Teacher for the inclusion of students with disabilities and with DSA (Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. In the e-mail it is necessary to specify: the name of the lesson; the date of the call; the student's surname, first name and matriculation number; the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures considered functional and required. The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant has the right to request adaptations during the examination and that these adaptations must be agreed upon with the teacher. The lecturer will respond by stating whether the requested adaptations can be used. Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the date of the exam in order to allow the lecturer to assess their content. In particular, in the event that concept maps are to be used for the exam if the submission does not comply with the requirements of the exam, the teacher must be informed. In particular, in the case where concept maps are to be used for the examination, if the submission does not meet the deadline there will not be the technical time necessary to make any changes.
Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography, and take the examination in French
