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!
Ten New Exciting Facsimiles Announced!
Take-Away Points from my Frankfurt Trip
- Despite a general crisis in the book market, facsimile publishers hold their ground with quality production.
- New Facsimiles Announced
- Letters of Othea by Christine de Pizan (BnF, Ms. 606)
- Codex Cocharelli (14th-century manuscript from Genoa)
- Hours of Engelbert of Nassau (Flemish manuscript at the Bodleian Library)
- Facsimile edition of the Cloisters Apocalypse (14th-century manuscript)
- Manuscript from the Vatican’s Greek collection (Belser Verlag)
- Four New projects unveiled by Orbis Medievalis (including a map and three manuscripts rich in miniatures)
- A secret project from the Beinecke Library at Yale (Quaternio Verlag)
- The best party always happens on Thursday and is held by Universal Art Group!
My Fourteenth Trip to the Frankfurt Book Fair
This year marked my 14th trip to the Frankfurt Book Fair, a journey that kicked off back in 2010. Yet, it’s hard to ignore how much has changed in recent years: the fair has shrunk dramatically, and the once-thriving facsimile section has taken a severe hit.
Can you imagine?
Just five traditional publishers held their ground this time around, relegated to a makeshift area typically reserved for art books, now sandwiched among a mishmash of other genres.
Given these circumstances, I set off for Frankfurt with low morale and few expectations.
Early Birds Get the Worms: Leaving 7 hours before the first meeting
Our adventure began at 2:00 AM when I met my colleague Giacomo Cecchetti from Pazzini Stampatore, a printing press specializing in art books and facsimiles. Together, we set off on our journey: a drive to Bologna for a direct flight that whisked us to Frankfurt by 8 AM. After navigating the metro, we arrived at the fair, just in time for our first appointment at 9:00 AM.
Meet Universal Art Group: the hat for Faksimile Verlag, Verlag Müller&Schindler, and Eikon Editores, and much more!
We kicked off our day by meeting Charlotte Kramer, Javier Zalve, and Alexander Wilhelm. Charlotte, along with her husband Javier Zalve and with the cooperation of publishing expert Alexander Wilhelm, leads a holding company dedicated to art, and they recently formed a new group called Universal Art Group. This initiative focuses on producing high-quality art books, and we are working closely together on several fronts.
Among the exciting announcements, there are three new facsimiles:
1. Letter of Othea by Christine de Pizan (BnF, Ms. 606), a manuscript handled by Christine de Pizan herself;
2. Codex Cocharelli, a 14th-century manuscript created in Genoa. It contains a fascinating mix of moral treatises and illustrated scenes that are simply stunning.
3. The exquisite Hours of Engelbert of Nassau, a Flemish manuscript wonderfully illuminated and held at the Bodleian Library.
Not Just Bookselling: Producing Facsimiles on Behalf of Publishers
My role transcends the simple act of selling facsimiles; I also serve as a consultant for the production of new facsimiles. Giacomo and I have had the privilege of collaborating on noteworthy projects, including the Psalter of Blanche of Castile and Ulugh Beg’s Book of the Constellations.
Most recently, we tackled the ambitious project of producing Christine de Pizan’s Letters of Othea, which was prominently showcased at the Müller & Schindler booth during the fair. What an honor!
New Collaborations on the Horizon: Belser Verlag
After wrapping up with Charlotte, we headed over to the Kosmos stand, home to renowned publisher Belser Verlag. There, we caught up with Bernhard Kolb and our friend Armin Sinnwell, an ex-director of Faksimile Verlag. Bernhard walked us through their available editions for the international market, including a stunning edition of a manuscript from the Vatican’s Greek collection. Armin and Bernard also discussed future opportunities with us, as we hope to create high-quality art books with them down the line.
Old Friends from Spain and Switzerland, Lots of New Projects
We then moved to CM Editores, where we met Adisa Raljevic and Daniel Diez Fernandez. It was a pleasure to reconnect and hear their news: CM has recently acquired the inventory of the historic Spanish publisher Club Bibliófilo Versol, and are planning a new facsimile edition of the Cloisters Apocalypse, a fabulous 14th-century manuscript that hasn’t been effectively reproduced since a modest 1971 edition. Exciting times ahead!
Another warm reunion took place with Gunter Tampe from Quaternio Verlag. Our friendship dates back to when we first met at the fair 14 years ago. Gunter has extensive experience in the field and presented a new project from the Beinecke Library at Yale, which we cannot announce just yet. Stay tuned for more on that!
Other Highlights from Spain and Italy: Orbis Medievalis, Millennium Liber, Siloé, and Imago
Throughout the fair, we also chatted with Omar Ramirez of Orbis Medievalis, who unveiled several new projects including a map and three gorgeous manuscripts rich in miniatures. I am hopeful about collaborating with him to produce these fascinating works. The new facsimiles announced by Orbis Medievalis are:
- Madrid Map of the Mediterranean Sea (Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional de España, MS Vit. 4-21)
- The Beginning of the Four Gospels (Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS lat. 9466)
- Le Livre des Trois Âges (Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Smith-Lesouëf 70)
- Chants royaux du Puy Notre-Dame d’Amiens (Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms. Fr. 145)
During breaks, I had delightful conversations with Alberto Sanchez Nieto of Millennium Liber and Juanjo Garcia and Pablo Molinero from Siloé. I also had a delightful catch-up with my Italian neighbors at the Imago booth: Chiara and Caterina, while the owner, Barbara Bertoni, would be arriving the following day. Imago is located in Rimini, which is just 20 minutes away from my office in San Marino, so we have plenty of opportunities to meet during the year.
Giacomo and I were also thrilled to meet esteemed art historian Eberhard König, known for his many facsimile commentaries, along with other colleagues who have made attending these fairs a cherished experience over the years.
Celebratory Conclusion: the German-Spanish Party
Our day wrapped up around 6 PM as we gathered for the traditional Thursday party at the Universal Art Group stand. Over the years, Charlotte and Javier have hosted one of the fair’s best parties. This year featured a delightful blend of Spanish culinary treats and excellent German beers and wines. A standout for me was a delicious Manchego Curado cheese from Javier and a simple yet flavorful beer handed to me by Alexander.
Twenty-four Hours Later, It’s Finally Time to Rest!
With spirits high and excitement for the future, Giacomo and I made our way back to the airport, concluding our whirlwind visit. By the time we finally rested our heads at home, 24 hours after setting out, we were already buzzing with the fantastic opportunities that lay ahead. Stay tuned for more updates and details on these thrilling projects!