Topic Description: Antiquities and Antiquarianism

"AVVISI" were newsletters (usually manuscript) composed by professional correspondents or "Intelligencers" (usually anonymous) and circulated in multiple copies to the ruling elite as well as other subscribers. Characteristically, they filled four to eight sides of a single or double bifolio, with the place and date of issue recorded on the top of the first page followed by political and cultural news arranged in paragraphs. In the Medici Granducal Archive, "AVVISI" often occur as enclosures in letters, thus offering valuable evidence regarding their point of origin and intended recipient. In the database, "AVVISI" are tracked as objects in their own right; references are also tracked to their production, sale, circulation, collection, and use. A distinct document record is thus created for each "AVVISO" (separate from the letter in which the "AVVISO" is enclosed, when this is the case), citing the place of origin (e.g., "Venezia") if known, as well as the sender and recipient, if known. The "Synopsis" in English always begins with the word "AVVISO" in capital letters, clearly signaling the nature of the document, followed by a brief characterization of its contents. Political pamphlets, "Relazioni," "Conclavi" and other topical compositions are indexed as "AVVISI" (indeed, they were often produced and distributed by the same correspondents.) Printed items of this description are indexed both as "AVVISI" and "BOOKS AND PRINTING." The collection and preservation of "AVVISI" is also indexed as "ARCHIVES."

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