The Giunti and the Medici

As part of the History of Printing and Renaissance/Reformation Collections, Special Collections has acquired numerous examples of the work of the Giunti family, a prominent Italian printing dynasty of the 15^th and 16^th centuries. The family’s printing business extended across Europe, with presses in Venice, Florence, and Lyon and a book distribution network which spread from Spain to Germany. In Florence, the Giunti press was closely tied to the ruling Medici family, and printed many pamphlets and laws issued by the duchy. The law pictured here was issued by Grand Duke Cosimo I de Medici, who was born this day five hundred years ago. The portrait of Cosimo, also printed by the Giunti, comes from a pamphlet commemorating his funeral in 1574.