Sansoni

Until the 1930s, Sansoni devoted almost all its attention to literature, with its works mostly aimed at schools and universities. Some of its most important collections are "Raccolta di opere inedite o rare di ogni secolo della letteratura italiana" (started in 1880), "Biblioteca scolastica di classici italiani (started in 1885), "Collezione di classici greci" (started in 1887), "Biblioteca critica della letteratura italiana" (started in 1895).

In 1932 Sansoni was bought by Giovanni Gentile who extended its scope into philosophy and history. He started some new magazines including the second series of "Giornale critico della filosofia italiana", "Critica d'arte" (directed by Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli, Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti and Roberto Longhi), "Lingua nostra" (directed by Bruno Migliorini e Giacomo Devoto).

After the end of World War II and the assassination of Gentile in 1944, the publisher was managed by his son Federico. He opened the way to encyclopedias (including Enciclopedia cattolica and Enciclopedia dello spettacolo) and dictionaries. In 1976 Federico Gentile sold the company to Rizzoli and on the same year he founded the publishing house Le Lettere (still located in Florence). Le Lettere acquired part of the titles of Sansoni, including Giovanni Gentile's Opera Omnia. Sansoni became later one of the many trademarks of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. Sansoni's archives are in Archivio di Stato di Firenze, which is restoring and inventorying them after the flood of 1966.