Way back in 1981 few Italians knew about the art of Bonsai and the only specialized publications available at the time was a small book written by Master Murata which had been translated from Japanese and was edited by Edagricole Editor.
It became obvious that there was a great necessity for literature on this art; as a consequence Edizioni Volonterio was founded and in January of 1982 it started its activity by publishing the first Italian Bonsai magazione ‘BONSAI: Arte e Natura’.

Later on during a convention in Heidelberg (Germany) the founder members met John Naka and who was to know then that this was to be the beginning of a long friendship and would be very important with respect to future Bonsai events.
It was so that Edizioni Volonterio published and distributed, in collaboration with the Heidelberg Bonsai Centrum, John Naka’s ‘Techniques Bonsai 1’ – translated into Italian by Maria T. Volonterio in person. Followed, in 1989, by the Italian version of ‘Techniques Bonsai 2’ and in the same year the translation, from French, of another interesting monography written by Agnes Muylaert-Luycx and J. P. Timmermans ‘Zelkova as Bonsai’.

Edizioni Volonterio also published a special catalogue for the First European Bonsai and Suiseki Convention held in Turin in 1990 where the graphics were done by the famous artist Mr. Carlo Rapp.
In September of 1997 Edizioni Volonterio was yet again busy with the publication of the Italian version of the interesting Japanese book “Come creare un bonsai di pino” where a reprint was necessary in 2000, the French version is currently being prepared.
Over the years Edizioni Volonterio has had the foresight to commission the creation of viodeos taken during demonstrations and lessons of all the Masters invited, by them, to Italy.
Since 1982 the magazine BONSAI: Arte e Natura has been regularly published reaching a total of 69 issues. In 1998 it merged with Bonsaitalia to become BONSAITALIA Arte e Nature publishing a further 30 issues.