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This is one of 74 copies printed on cream-color Magnani paper, handmade* in Pescia, Tuscany.

PRINT RUN
A total of 162 numbered copies were printed, partly on European and partly on Asian papers. 
In detail:
. 74 on cream-color Magnani paper, handmade* in Pescia;

. 33 on ivory-color Magnani paper, handmade in Pescia;

. 8 on Zerkall cotton paper, made in Germany;

. 8 on white Magnani paper made in Pescia, Tuscany;

. 6 on Whatman paper made in Maidstone, Kent in the 1940s;

. 5 on laid Magnani paper made in Pescia, Tuscany;

. 5 on Burgo paper made in Maslianico, Como;

. 4 on Alcantara paper made in Aci Bonaccorsi, Sicily;

. 3 on off-white Fabriano paper;

. 3 on white "Le Carte" paper, made by Magnani.

. 3 on ancient Montval paper, made in France;

. 3 on light-blue "Le Carte" paper, made by Magnani

. 2 on light-blue Fleurac paper made in France;

. 2 on Mitsumata paper, handmade by Toshiharu Kano in Japan.

. 2 on Gampi paper, handmade in Japan;

. 1 on ancient paper handmade in Japan.

(*) Each sheet is made by hand according to tradition, without the use of machinery.

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This is a bilingual edition (ancient Greek and Italian).

Volume in 16mo format (cm11x18) of 70 pages typeset by hand in original 6-pt Neue Griechisch Cursive type, cast in 1885 by Shelter & Giesecke in Leipzig. 

The translations into Italian were handset in 6-pt Garaldus types, cast by Nebiolo (Turin), in 1955. 

The small size of the types chosen for this edition recalls the tiny dimensions of the inscriptions found on the golden foils.

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The ‘Orphic’ tablets date back to the V-III century b.C., and were found in graves throughout the ancient Greek world. They were destined to those initiated to the Orphism, in order to experience, in the afterlife, the supreme experience of the identification with the One-Whole.

The Orphic creeds exerted great influence on later Greek culture: in fact, evidence of Orphic elements is found in the writings of many later Greek philosophies.

Greek type case (type size: 6-point):

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Preface and Italian translation by Angelo Tonelli.

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The volume is housed in a hand-made slipcase and box, custom made to an exact size, whose exteriors are covered with Ingres paper. The book title is letterpress-printed on the slipcase’s spine.

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The original movable types used for the hand-typesetting of this book make it an exceptional endeavor in the contemporary printing scene. 

Neither monotype nor linotype are used. These typesetting systems from a keyboard are often passed off as manual typography. The Tallone Press also does not print from plastic plates derived from digital compositions (photopolimer plates), today very much in vogue to simulate the effect of type impression onto the paper.

Printed on very fine paper and sewn by hand, this collector’s edition is a sophisticated gift meant to last over time and designed to give the best reading experience possible.