{"id":12989,"date":"2021-06-21T10:20:45","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T09:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.facsimilefinder.com\/articles\/?p=12989"},"modified":"2023-02-09T10:09:31","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T09:09:31","slug":"illuminated-manuscript-facsimiles-from-production-to-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.facsimilefinder.com\/articles\/illuminated-manuscript-facsimiles-from-production-to-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"Giovanni’s Guest Talk at Harvard on Facsimile Production and Use"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As the founder and owner of Facsimile Finder, part of my job carries with it an aspect of divulgation<\/strong> about the fascinating world of ancient manuscripts and their facsimile editions, and that\u2019s something I commit to with enthusiasm and passion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why I was beyond honored when, in April 2021, I got an invitation from the Herman and Joan Suit Librarian, Shalimar Fojas White<\/strong>, and Research & Collections Librarian Jessica Evans-Brady<\/strong> to speak about facsimiles of illuminated manuscripts at Harvard University<\/strong> in a series of pop-up events exploring the art book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my talk, I discussed the history, production, and market of facsimiles<\/strong>, as well as use cases in the library, the classroom, the studio,<\/strong> and beyond. The event was attended by around 70 folks from the Harvard community, and jointly sponsored by the Harvard Fine Arts Library<\/strong><\/a> and the Department of History of Art and Architecture<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Giovanni<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I began by recounting how I first got started in the luxury bookselling industry<\/strong> more than 13 years ago. With no background in the field and coming from a short career as a professional double bass player, there was so much to learn!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the very beginning I knew that I wanted to do something different <\/strong>from the mainstream facsimile market, which was mostly made of wealthy private collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By sheer coincidence, a few months later my wife Giulia was witness to a conversation a few scholars had from an important American institution, who mentioned that they often used facsimiles for research and teaching.<\/strong> This struck Giulia to the point that she reported the conversation to me, suggesting that perhaps we should learn more about the scholars’ needs in regards to manuscripts and facsimiles.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Giulia<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After many conversations with faculty and art librarians<\/strong>, the concept of the Facsimile Finder website came into our minds, and the final version of the website that you see now slowly came into being. FacsimileFinder.com<\/a><\/strong> is an online catalog that strives to present, in an attractive yet scholarly fashion, all existing quality facsimiles produced from the 1950s to the present. Today, the site contains over 1,900 records, and is the first and most comprehensive online catalog of facsimiles<\/strong> that serves libraries, scholars, and collectors all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As I learned more about the needs of scholars and librarians<\/strong>, I also learned much in terms of the market and production of deluxe facsimiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"An<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n