The origin of Fabrizio Salani's "AG" monagram

[Koen G]

Well found! Another variation with the rounder loop. 

Earlier today I messed around a bit in photoshop to produce this, for clarity and ease of comparison:

   

[ReneZ]

Is it certain that the top ones are AG, not AC?

[eggyk]

Is it certain that the top ones are AG, not AC?

Yes, it is labelled as AG in the original (and presented in sequence after AF). AC is similar, though. 

       

[Fabrizio Salani]

[quote="ReneZ" pid='81950' dateline='1774509702']
È certo che quelli in alto siano AG e non AC?
[/citazione]

Sì, nell'originale è etichettato come AG (e presentato in sequenza dopo AF). Anche AC è simile. 


[/citazione]
The strange thing is that, from what I see in the book according to Renoir, it could also be GA as for the "G" section the first combination starts from "GG"

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[quote="Fabrizio Salani" pid='81954' dateline='1774510713']
[quote="eggyk" pid='81953' dateline='1774510418']
[quote="ReneZ" pid='81950' dateline='1774509702']
È certo che quelli in alto siano AG e non AC?
[/citazione]

Sì, nell'originale è etichettato come AG (e presentato in sequenza dopo AF). Anche AC è simile. 


[/citazione]
The strange thing is that, from what I see in the book according to Renoir, it could also be GA as for the "G" section the first combination starts from "GG"

This makes me think that they are not "all" his inventions, but a pre-existing collection with the addition, perhaps, of his own variations.

[eggyk]

The strange thing is that, from what I see in the book according to Renoir, it could also be GA as for the "G" section the first combination starts from "GG"

That seems to have been convention and quite normal. As this style intertwined the letters so closely, any AG monogram could be used for GA too. So yes, it is also a GA monogram.

This makes me think that they are not "all" his inventions, but a pre-existing collection with the addition, perhaps, of his own variations.

Considering his monograms are so extensive compared to almost any other designer in the 1800s (or since), and all of his designs share the same style, it would be interesting if he simply compiled them from another collection. When other publishers copied from his collection, they were always compilers. The english reprint is an example of that. When Renoir published other designs that were based on a specific style, it was in the title, like "in the style of Louis XIV". 

If he was drawing inspiration for all of his designs from one place, it's more likely from the designs/traditions of his teacher Samuel Daniel. But that does not push the age back too far.

[Fabrizio Salani]

... With the opening of this discussion section, dedicated only to the seal, I return to my interest in the parchment....
It's just a curiosity and my opinion. Based on what the sphragistics experts at the State Archives told me, namely that it could have been made with a pendant or a ring, I assume it was a ring on the right or, more likely, left middle finger. Because: if you imprint a manual stamp (with a handle or pendant), you look at it to understand the correct direction of pressure, while you don't do this with a ring, because the direction is always the one of the finger. Let's imagine the parchment rotated with the long side, the one with the seal, towards us and we imprint the seal with our fist. I noticed that, in any case, a slight twist to the right of the right fist naturally occurs, and an even greater one with the left, but the seal shows greater pressure on the upper/left part (which has detached over time) than on the lower/right part, and this makes me think of the left hand applying more force upwards. Obviously, I'm thinking as a right-handed person and without physical proof, only virtual!

[Fabrizio Salani]

... With the opening of this discussion section, dedicated only to the seal, I return to my interest in the parchment....
It's just a curiosity and my opinion. Based on what the sphragistics experts at the State Archives told me, namely that it could have been made with a pendant or a ring, I assume it was a ring on the right or, more likely, left middle finger. Because: if you imprint a manual stamp (with a handle or pendant), you look at it to understand the correct direction of pressure, while you don't do this with a ring, because the direction is always the one of the finger. Let's imagine the parchment rotated with the long side, the one with the seal, towards us and we imprint the seal with our fist. I noticed that, in any case, a slight twist to the right of the right fist naturally occurs, and an even greater one with the left, but the seal shows greater pressure on the upper/left part (which has detached over time) than on the lower/right part, and this makes me think of the left hand applying more force upwards. Obviously, I'm thinking as a right-handed person and without physical proof, only virtual!

   

[Jorge_Stolfi]

it could have been made with a pendant or a ring

A ring would make more sense if one used wax seals frequently, e. g. as a legally valid signature on documents.  For very occasional "fun" use, one would probably have the seal made as a stamp-like stick.

All the best, --stolfi

[Stefan Wirtz_2]

Will be the easiest way to check all of W. Voynich‘s friends, neighbours and fans: 
the one named A.G. should be the one who made a copy and sealed it so pompously…

[Koen G]

I thought I had a lead when I learned of a prominent Italian "G.A.", born in the 1930's. But alas, he used a different monogram.