Firenze: A. Vallecchi e C., 1913-1914. Quarto (32 x 22 cm). Original printed self-wrappers; 8 pp. each. Some light toning and minor marginal foxing, overall very good.

A complete run of 8 issues in 7 fascicules (No. 2/3 is a double-issue) of the short-lived Florentine journal issued twice a month from October 1913 through February 1914. It was founded and edited by Florentine futurist writer Ugo Tommei (1894-1918), who was joined by Guido Pogni as managing editor. Tommei had formed friendships with the founders of Lacerba, and in 1913 decided to found his own journal in his home city.

The journal leaned strongly towards a popular neo-proletarian nationalism, and was named in honor of the neighborhood in Paris which was a center of anti-democratic and anti-parliament sentiments at the end of the nineteenth century. Contributors to the journal included Giuseppe Ceccherelli, Gian Pietro Lucini, Corrado Govoni, Enrico Cardile, Camillo Sbarbaro, Titta Rosa, Arcangelo Distaso, Giuseppe Sbodio, Arthur Jehande, Giani Stuparich, and Augusto Hermet. Their works touched on anarchy, the politics of art, and revolutionary experiments with poetry, among others, without making space for graphics or illustrations. The only "graphic" element present in the journal is a typographic change to the title of the journal in the last two issues.

The overall goal of Quartiere Latino was embrace Futurism without venturing too far to the extreme. A two-page Prelude by Tommei opens the first issue, and lays out quite clearly his goals and mindset for the publication of the journal. It opens with this phrase: "Questo è il quartiere latino che non à confini nè portieri: vi si entra a piacere senza bisogno di tessere nè d'abiti di rigore; vi si esce a comodo, senz'essere obbligati a nulla. Questo è il quartiere latino e vi si vive in completa libertà: ecco il programma."

Book ID: 52665

Price: $2,500.00