Giovanni is the founder of Facsimile Finder. He's the only true responsible for every fault we have, so feel free to blame him if you have reasons to hate this website. If you love this project, though, feel free to send him muffins, or chocolate bonbons, or the first tasty thing you have at hand.
The Liber Abaci introduced to the Western world the numerals we use today, along with the sequence that led to the Golden Ratio, which lies at the heart of some of the greatest works of art ever created. Explore how mathematics traveled from India to Italy and became the universal language of beauty.
At the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, I explored new facsimile projects celebrating both Western and non-Western manuscripts. From groundbreaking editions to inspiring encounters with global publishers, it was a powerful reminder of how diverse traditions continue to shape the art of the book.
What do the Holy Trinity, the Desert Fathers, and a terrified man fleeing from a giant snail have in common? Surprisingly, they are all masterfully depicted within the curious yet captivating manuscript known as the Rothschild Canticles. But what connects this peculiar imagery, along with several other profane illustrations found in the margins, to the sacred themes of the text and its full-page theological illuminations? Continue reading, and join us in unraveling the mystery.
This year I set off for the Frankfurt Book Fair with low expectations, only to discover that publishers unveiled 10 new exciting facsimiles. From the Letters of Othea to the Cloisters Apocalypse, this year brought unexpected surprises that are sure to delight art book enthusiasts!
Futurism was an artistic movement centered in Italy that emphasized the dynamism, speed, energy, and power of the machine, and the vitality, change, and restlessness of modern life.
Imagine a hot summer day on the Romagna seashore, with my son kicking a ball and my wife Giulia attempting to soak up the sun. It was during this moment that I vividly recall bombarding her with questions and frantically jotting down notes on a piece of paper, in an attempt to solidify my ideas and chase the sudden vision of what would eventually become the Facsimile Finder database.
Each year at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Europe’s largest, I delve into the latest news and rumors from the European publishing scene. It’s a unique opportunity to (re)connect, learn, and celebrate the ever-evolving world of books.
A book about monstrous creatures, an herbal with hundreds of illustrations of medicinal plants and animals, two codices by Leonardo da Vinci that got lost for 150 years: the Frankfurt Book Fair granted me the privilege to get a preview of new amazing facsimiles. Read and choose your favorite!
In April 2021, Giovanni was invited as a guest speaker at Harvard University. Read through his own report on the talk he gave on the production of manuscript facsimiles and their use for teaching, research, and artistic purposes.
From November 15th to February 26th 2017, the Institut du Monde Arabe will be hosting the “Aventuries Des Mers” exhibition. The collection will take us on a journey throughout the globe, with the aid of some 200 hundred pieces, including the Fra Mauro map facsimile.