The first phase of our Secolo digitization project, in 2013-14, focused on the year 1885, because it was a year rich in events in Italy and Europe, and it represents one of Stabilimento Sonzogno’s most productive years.
A few notes from our work on that year:
- Missing or exceeding content:
- The March 17 issue displays only the first two pages of the newspaper.
- March 18 displays only the last two pages of the issue.
- No issue was published on Monday April 6 (Easter Sunday was April 5).
- On July 1, the newspaper was distributed with a booklet on “Il mondo prima della creazione dell’uomo” (the booklet is not included in the digitized version).
- On August 9, the newspaper was distributed with the first issue “I bisogni della vita e gli elementi della prosperità” by G. Rengade, as a separate booklet to be given to newspaper clients (the booklet is not included in the digitized version).
- The February 22 issue is double: it contains a 4 pages supplement on the African expedition: “Supplemento straordinario illustrato al Giornale, ‘La spedizione d’Africa.’” (also digitized)
1885 is also the year that was originally chosen for a separate digital project, “Sonzogno Digital Catalog – Sample 1885,” completed in 2013. Although independently executed and managed, both projects aim to provide research tools on Sonzogno’s editorial production. As a double resource, they now provide a good overview of Sonzogno’s book and periodical production for 1885.
