G. Ricordi & Co. advertising card

An advertising card design shown in the Printers International Specimen Exchange, Vol. XIV, 1893. Printed letterpress with extensive usage of bent brass rules. Though not typical of the genre, it should be considered work in the artistic printing movement category.

“Tipo-Litografiche” is in Bijou (1883), “Milano” and “Telefono N. 143” in caps from Unique Celtic (1889), and the address in Chaucer (1883). The thin typeface chosen for the company name itself is yet unidentified.

Giovanni Ricordi founded his internationally known music publishing company in Milan, Italy, in 1808. He was hired by Teatro alla Scala in 1814, and in 1825 purchased the entire La Scala library. In 1839, he published Verdi’s first opera. The company in 1893 was headed by Giovanni’s grandson Giulio. Ricordi remains very much in business today.

This composition, to me, could be mistaken for a modern, contemporary design.