Among the treasures of a bookbindery: the story of Conti Borbone

In the Porta Romana district of Milan, at 29 Via Giulio Romano there is what, by far, we can consider the oldest bookbindery in the city: the "Legatoria Conti Borbone." Founded in 1874, originally the premises had been planted in Via Ratti (apparently it was a street where there were plenty of rats and it had taken its name from them), it is today's Via Cesare Cantù, right in the center, close to the famous Biblioteca Ambrosiana, also home to the even more supercelebrated Pinacoteca), since when its founder, Domenico Conti Borbone, after learning the trade in Vittorio Villa's workshop decided to set up on his own. With urban redevelopment and the demolition of entire blocks, Domenico's bindery moved to Santa Maria alla Porta at number 11, where the Marchesi pastry shop had existed since 1824, destined over the years to become one of the icons of Milan's pastry and chocolate excellence. On Domenico's death the reins of the bindery passed to his niece Giuseppina who, perhaps aided by the proximity between the two businesses, married a Marchesi herself: Isacco. In 1919 another move: this time the bookbindery would move to number 31 Corso Magenta in the building at the corner of what is now Via Terraggio, where it remained for no less than 103 years. Practicing this art, because a real art it is, because it involves "intellect and hands," to use the words of philosopher Giordano Bruno, are the heirs left, brothers Gianluca, Gabriele and Angelo Marchesi. Entering places like these is like entering a world of yesteryear. Printers, presses, punches, chests of drawers, typefaces, coats of arms, cliche, such as the one from the late 19th century reproducing a Garibaldi on Horseback made by engravers Lattone and Pozzi; books with covers engraved in gold, in silver, in burned with the palettes for hand printing on the spines, the wheels for the perimeters to adorn desks and the fine tables, are a joy to behold. Among the many bindings those made for dozens of Popes, for precious antique books, for the works of D'Annunzio of whom the workshop preserves, affixed to the wall, a photo of the Vate with this handwritten dedication: "To the inclined printers of "Tutte Le Opere" scorned by dall'Ardito di tutti gli Arditi"