Leaves 2-27: Alphabet of ornamented initials, one to a page. Each begins a verse or verses in Italian. The initials are constructed of flowery swags, usually supporting or being supported by a pair of large elaborate birds; sometimes animals, insects, etc, are included, sometimes free-standing. The script used for the text is usually cursive, but sometimes offers a hierarchy of hands, some highly ornamental. Only 5 distinct hands are given as separate alphabets. Some pages are unfinished; many show preliminary pencil sketching. This appears to be a copy of (or, conceivably, a draft for) the engraved book of the same title: "...Gaet. Garrè inv: e incise 1797. In Firenze appo: Giacomo Moro sotto gli Ufizi." See description in S. Morison's Calligraphy 1535-1885, Milano, La Bibliofila, 1962, pages 111-112. The two plates there reproduced are more highly finished than our, leaves, and have elaborate borders (and in one case a final line) which our manuscript lacks.

Items on leaves 1-27 include Title-page [Ornamented with birds, insects, plants, and a mouse] -- Alla Gioventii... [Birds and plants.] -- Alla Gioventii.,. [unfinished sketch] -- Bella è l'Arte...Chiede fatica... [Birds] -- Cerca it saggio la Gloria ...Alfabeto Majuscolo Tedisco-Stampatello... [Birds] -- Degna e l'Amista...Alf abeto Ebraico Stampatello... [Bird and animal] -- Età dell'Oro torna... [Birds and plants] -- Fortuna assistimi... [Bird and plants] -- Germoglia la Virtù..Alfabeto Majuscole Greco... [Wildcat and bird] -- Homero oggi e mia guide... [Bird and plant] -- Ingegno, è ardire... [Birds and plants] -- K. Piu di uningegno peregrino, e raro... [Birds and plants] -- Luce il Sapiente... [Hare and chicken] -- M. Col rabbuffato crin d'orgoglio piena...ABCDEFGHIKLMNO. [Insect, birds, plant] -- Nota, ed apprendi...PQRSTUVXYZ. [Rabbit, birds, plants] -- Ornor mi alletta... [Bird] -- Pensa e risolvi... [unfinished sketch] -- Questa è la via... [Parrot, dolphins, plants, insect] -- Riedi all'Onore...ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRSTTVXYZ [Defecating dog, female figurehead, birds, plants] -- Saggio chi scusar sa... [Faun climbing a snake-tree, goose, plants] -- Torni la gloria a noi... [Bird, snake, masked cornucopia] -- Trta e combatti... [Putto with motto Audaces Fortuna Juvat, cock, plants] -- Viva l'amor del Vero... [Birds, snake, plants] -- Xenocrate t'insegni... [Birds, insects] -- Yaculo ardente... [Birds] -- Zelo mi spinge daro con zelo un libro nuovo, e digno che da di bon scrivere i precetti che il famoso Duval nel franco regno espresse in dotte carte...Su trova vendibile presso l'autore lungo Arno al no: 3 dal Ponte a S. Trinita. [Birds holding swag with message]

Leaves 28-34: Instructions for writing, for cutting a pen; samples and a jeu-d'esprit. In the form of oblong "plates," most signed and dated by Giarre. Incoherent order; unfinished. One ornamented with cat-and-dog fight. Probably a copy of plates 3-7, 14, and another, from the engraved book by Giarre: "Inventò e incise questo nuovo metodo per formare un bel carattere," Firenze, Giacomo Moro, [1801].

Leaves 28-34 include Attacatura di due e tre lettere...metodo facile per acquisitare una equal pendenza e distanza...Gaetano Giarre incise l'anno 1800 -- [Alphabet of cursive capitals; names of Italian cities] Gaetano Giarrè scrittore incise 1801 -- Il principiante scriva...Carattere Corsivo, Gaetano Giarrè scrisse -- Caraterre formato all'Italiana...Il Giarre scrisse. Cat and dog fight -- Viva la penna. Auugbmo... -- Istruzione per temperare la Penna...[Diagram of cutting nib] Carattere inglese -- Fu 1'Ateniese Temistocle uno de' piu... [unfinished].

The last few pages in the volume, like the first, are blank. (The first page has booksellers' marks.)

Other items of interest: Leaf 28 uses blind sloping lines as guides. Offset on first paste-down begins: "Pour."