Cristiano Collari named head of Pandolfini Milan and rare books department

Cristiano Collari, an expert and collector of antiquarian books, has been appointed as the head of Pandolfini's Milan office and director of its Books, Manuscripts and Autographs department. In an interview, he outlined plans to strengthen the auction house's presence in Milan through special events, thematic auctions, exhibitions, and educational programs for collectors. The first major auction is scheduled for May, featuring rare bibliographic items including Stradano's "Venationes ferarum, avium, piscium" from the late 16th century, a collection of mathematical works by Niccolò Tartaglia (many in first editions), and William Hamilton's "Campi Phlegraei," recently highlighted in an exhibition at Gallerie d'Italia in Naples. Collari, whose grandfather was a book collector and uncle owned a paper mill near Rome, emphasized the intimate and private nature of bibliophilia, contrasting it with more ostentatious collecting. He noted that rarity and condition remain key value factors, alongside provenance and annotations by influential figures. The interview was conducted by Cristina Masturzo.