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DELLA TORRE, Giovanni Maria (1710-1782). Storia e fenomeni del Vesuvio. Naples: Giuseppe Raimondi, 1755.
First edition of a beautifully illustrated study of the volcanic activity of Mount Vesuvius by the Italian naturalist and philosopher Della Torre who, beside achieving important progress in the construction of microscopes, served as librarian to the King of Sicily and was one of the founding members of the Royal Society for the Study of Herculaneum. His monograph was the result of over twenty years of direct field observations and published studies (many international scientists, such as Nollet, Lalande, Ferber, would regularly perform the ‘ascent to Vesuvius’ with him as a guide – indeed Lalande’s account of Vesuvius in his Voyage is wholly indebted to Della Torre’s writings). Here not only does Della Torre present an analysis of eruptive material and eruption mechanics: he also defines, perhaps for the first time explicitly, the history of a volcano not as a sequence of exterior phenomena but as an internal ‘building’ process facilitated by such phenomena. Furchheim, Bibliografia del Vesuvio, pp.194-5.
Quarto (268 x 199mm). With 9 folding engraved plates (very light occasional spotting). Contemporary sheep, sides with gilt double-rule, upper side with direct-gilt titling and small gilt armorial stamp, flat spine gilt (joints cracked but holding, mild soiling, a few abrasions).
First edition of a beautifully illustrated study of the volcanic activity of Mount Vesuvius by the Italian naturalist and philosopher Della Torre who, beside achieving important progress in the construction of microscopes, served as librarian to the King of Sicily and was one of the founding members of the Royal Society for the Study of Herculaneum. His monograph was the result of over twenty years of direct field observations and published studies (many international scientists, such as Nollet, Lalande, Ferber, would regularly perform the ‘ascent to Vesuvius’ with him as a guide – indeed Lalande’s account of Vesuvius in his Voyage is wholly indebted to Della Torre’s writings). Here not only does Della Torre present an analysis of eruptive material and eruption mechanics: he also defines, perhaps for the first time explicitly, the history of a volcano not as a sequence of exterior phenomena but as an internal ‘building’ process facilitated by such phenomena. Furchheim, Bibliografia del Vesuvio, pp.194-5.
Quarto (268 x 199mm). With 9 folding engraved plates (very light occasional spotting). Contemporary sheep, sides with gilt double-rule, upper side with direct-gilt titling and small gilt armorial stamp, flat spine gilt (joints cracked but holding, mild soiling, a few abrasions).
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