GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von. Saggio sulla Metamorfosi delle Piante di.. Goethe. Tradotto da Pietro Robiati Milan: Pirotta & Co., 1842.

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GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von. Saggio sulla Metamorfosi delle Piante di.. Goethe. Tradotto da Pietro Robiati Milan: Pirotta & Co., 1842.

4° (297 x 225mm). Half-title. Contemporary Milanese red morocco, bound for presentation to Archduke Rainer with his arms blocked in gilt at the centre of the covers, surrounded by an inner frame with elaborate blocked cornerpieces joined by a broad fillet, the outer frame composed from seven thin fillets, the spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in one, the others blocked in gilt, gilt turn-ins, cream watered-silk liners and endleaves, g.e., slipcase. Provenance: Archduke Rainer, Austrian viceroy of Lombardy and Veneto (1783-1852, binding); Hans Fürstenberg (book-label).

THE DEDICATEE'S FINELY BOUND LARGE PAPER COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN of Goethe's Versuch über die Metamorphose der Pflanzen. It is based on the enlarged edition of 1831, and may be unique in this large-paper form. Even the normal 8° issue (Goedeke IV,3, p.577) is rare: there are no copies in either the Kippenberg Catalogue, the Speck Collection or the British Library.

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