While he was busy trying to keep alive the dialogue between the Pope and the Emperor, in a tragic political and military moment, surrounded by numerous problems, Castiglione decided to print the Libro del Cortegiano, the literary work the elaboration of which he had been working on for about twenty years. This decision followed his desire to put the best part of himself in a safe place, a typical action of someone who can sense his own collapse, physical and spiritual. Thus, on 9^th April 1527 Baldassarre informed his farmer in Mantua, Cristoforo Tirabosco, that he had sent to Venice the manuscript of the work, that he had brought with him from Rome, and on which, even during his years as representative of the Pope, he had continued to work, making corrections and additions. The manuscript was addressed to Giovan Battista Ramusio, secretary of the Republic, so that he could arrange for its publication by the famous printing house of the heirs of Aldo Manuzio. Baldassarre gave Tirabosco precise dispositions regarding the execution of the printing, so that the books would appear elegant and sober, in line with his expectations.

The printing of the work started in Venice at the end of the month of November. The first copies were ready in the following spring. In April, Castiglione sent Tiraboschi a message from Spain, containing further instructions for the distribution of the book, as well as among men of letters, among princes, gentlemen and dames of the courts of renaissance Europe.

Printing mark of the “edizioni aldine”, printed in Venice by Aldo Manuzio and his heirs