On June 9, 2026,the deed of donation was signed, whereby Gianni Bono’s private archive became part of the collection of the National Central Library of Florence. This is one of the most important collections dedicated to Italian comics, the result of decades of research and collecting by Giovanni Attilio Bono—known as Gianni Bono—a publisher, historian, and one of the leading experts in the field.
The Bono Collection comprises over 800,000 items, including periodicals, book series, comic books, and specialized essays—both Italian and foreign editions—as well as screenplays, story outlines, manuscripts, sketches, archival documents, original artwork, posters, flyers, fanzines, and numerous rare items related to the history of the leading authors and characters of Italian comics. A significant portion of the collection has already been cataloged in the “Guida al fumetto italiano” database.
The value of this initiative also lies in the decision to entrust this collection to a public institution under the Ministry of Culture. The National Central Library of Florence is, in fact, the main archive of Italian publishing and plays a fundamental role in the preservation, study, and consultation of the national bibliographic heritage. Thanks to the legal deposit system, the Library already houses a rich collection of comics and illustrated periodicals, which has expanded over the years despite the significant losses caused by the 1966 flood. The acquisition of the Bono Collection now makes it possible to supplement this heritage with a private collection of exceptional scope and specialization, while ensuring its unified preservation, protection, and public accessibility, thereby avoiding the risk of its dispersal.
*Giorno dei Ragazzi*, No. 50, 1965, cover by Benito JacovittiThe donation also marks the launch of a wide-ranging cultural project aimed at recognizing comics as an integral part of Italy’s cultural heritage. The goal is to promote exhibitions, conferences, research activities, and in-depth initiatives that highlight comics as an expressive language, a cultural industry, a part of publishing history, and an art form, making them available to scholars, researchers, schools, universities, and all enthusiasts.
The transfer of the Gianni Bono Collection will take place in 2026. Following that, cataloging work will begin, which will gradually make the entire collection searchable and fully accessible.
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| The National Central Library of Florence Acquires the Gianni Bono Collection |
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