Giovanni Scorcioni

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 Rothschild Canticles: An Illuminated Mystery

November 15, 2024December 5, 2024Giovanni Scorcioni

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.

Frankfurt Book Fair 2024: Low Expectations, Great Outcome

October 30, 2024October 31, 2024Giovanni Scorcioni

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!

Facsimiles & Futurism: Capturing the World’s Dynamism & Energy Through Art

September 3, 2024December 3, 2024Giovanni Scorcioni

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.

From Passion to Purpose: The Birth and Growth of Facsimile Finder

January 20, 2024December 9, 2024Giovanni Scorcioni

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.

Highlights from the 75th Frankfurt Book Fair

November 10, 2023October 30, 2024Giovanni Scorcioni

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.

What’s New at Frankfurt Book Fair 2022?

November 8, 2022November 17, 2022Giovanni Scorcioni

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!

Giovanni’s Guest Talk at Harvard on Facsimile Production and Use

June 21, 2021February 9, 2023Giovanni Scorcioni

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.

The Fra Mauro Map Facsimile and the Explorers of the Seas

May 5, 2021May 4, 2021Giovanni Scorcioni

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.

Order “La Divina Commedia — The New Manuscript”

April 25, 2021November 22, 2022Giovanni Scorcioni

George Cochrane’s graphic novel is now in production. This is your chance to grab one of the last copies available for sale.

On the Art of Hunting with Birds: a treatise by the Holy Roman Emperor himself, Frederick II

April 7, 2021June 22, 2021Giovanni Scorcioni

Hunting, particularly falconry, was a distinguished practice of the courtly elite globally across the Middle Ages. In addition to indicating noble status, hunting was also the subject of study and scientific inquiry.

Request Sales Quote