Milan : Ulrico Hoepli. 1878. First Edition, second issue 50 x 35mm, 1/2-title, portrait, cancel title-page printed in red and black, 499, [1] pp, contemporary black morocco, single fillet borders on sides, “Dante Divina Commedia” on spine, turn-ins decorated with roll tools in gilt, combed marbled end papers, edges stained red, integral ribbon book mark, a fine copy.
The second (Hoepli) issue of arguably the most famous of all miniature books printed with an unbelievably small type of 2 point commonly known, with good reason, as “occhio di mosca” (fly’s eye). It is sometimes claimed as the smallest book printed with moveable type, not because of the size of the page, but rather because of the font. This was first cast by Giacomo Gnocchi in 1850 but was set aside, presumably because of the difficulty in using it, until his son, Giovanni Gnocchi persuaded the Salmin brothers in Padova to undertake the arduous work (at a rate of 30 pages a month). On its publication in 1878 Hoepli purchased a number of copies and issued them with a new title-page. This second issue is equally as rare as the first.
Bondy: Miniature Books. pp94-5, Spelmann 114, Library Hub locates 2 copies only - Nat. Library Scotland, Trinity Coll. Cambs.