Details
GALLESIO, Giorgio, Conde (1772-1839). Pomona Italiana, ossia trattato degli alberi fruttiferi. Pisa: with the types of the Amoretti brothers at the the press of Niccolò Capurro, 1835.
2 volumes, 2° (473 x 305mm). Letterpress titles, 71 STIPPLE-ENGRAVED PLATES PRINTED IN COLOURS AND FINISHED BY HAND. (Several plates with extremely light spotting or discoloration, three plates with very small areas of old dampstain, mainly marginal, several text leaves spotted, plate of the Pera Allora and description of the Pero Luisa each with a minute tear, plate of the Susina Catelana with a tiny and skilfully repaired tear at the upper margin.) Contemporary green morocco gilt, the covers with decorative border composed of rules, geometric rolls and stylised floral and foliate roll, the spine in six compartments with raised bands, light and dark brown morocco lettering-pieces onlaid in two, the others with central floral spray, surrounded by various small tools, the edges and turn-ins with roll-tool decoration including a bunch of grapes and three types of flower, g.e., by John Wright.
AN UNRECORDED ISSUE OF THE FINEST ITALIAN WORK ON FRUIT. It is not listed in the NUC or in CLIO (Catalogo dei libri italiani dell'ottocento, 1801-1900), and is apparently unknown to any bibliographers. The presence of the two title pages, dated 1835 and clearly marked 'Tomo Primo' and 'Tomo Secondo' appear to indicate that Gallesio published this selection of his plates as a separate and self-contained work before the series of approximately 160 plates was completed, perhaps in order to raise funds to continue publication of the main work. In a note to his subscribers ("Ai Signori Associati", dated 1839 and therefore not present in this copy), Gallesio hints at the financial difficulties of producing such a lavish work, and at pressure from his publishers to issue the work before it was complete, in order to realise a quick return. Although he strenuously denies taking any such course, he then immediately refers to his pleasure at every new injection of capital into the work, seeing it bring improvements in the text and in the printing. He writes: "Io lavorava per la scienza, solo per la scienza . . . senza farmi schiavo nè degli interessi dell'edizione nè di quelli degli Associati . . . Se avessi voluto fare una speculazione, e seguire gli impulsi e i piani degli editori, l'opera sarebbe già finita da molto tempo, ed io goderei un qualche frutto delle mie fatiche. Ma io non ho mai lasciato entrare nei calcoli nè l'interesse degli editori nè il mio: io l'ho sempre sacrificato e lo sacrifico al perfezionamento dell'Opera . . . e ho provata una soddisfazione ogni volta che, con un aumento di spesa ho potuto ottenere un aumento di lume nel testo, o un perfezionamento nella parte tipografica". Sadly Gallesio did not live to complete his work: this statement to his subscribers was issued with fascicule 41 of the Pomona, and formed the final part to the work, despite Gallesio's plans to issue further fascicules and indices to the entire work. At the time of writing the statement, Gallesio envisaged that the complete work would extend to five volumes.
Cf. Nissen BBI 683; Great Flower Books p. 57; Dunthorne 118; Pritzel 3181, all describing the 1817-1839 edition. The present unknown to all bibliographers.
Dr. Elliott, the librarian of the Lindley Library (Royal Horticultural Society), has kindly made his collations of the two Lindley copies available to us. (Both are the 1817-1839 edition.) (2)
2 volumes, 2° (473 x 305mm). Letterpress titles, 71 STIPPLE-ENGRAVED PLATES PRINTED IN COLOURS AND FINISHED BY HAND. (Several plates with extremely light spotting or discoloration, three plates with very small areas of old dampstain, mainly marginal, several text leaves spotted, plate of the Pera Allora and description of the Pero Luisa each with a minute tear, plate of the Susina Catelana with a tiny and skilfully repaired tear at the upper margin.) Contemporary green morocco gilt, the covers with decorative border composed of rules, geometric rolls and stylised floral and foliate roll, the spine in six compartments with raised bands, light and dark brown morocco lettering-pieces onlaid in two, the others with central floral spray, surrounded by various small tools, the edges and turn-ins with roll-tool decoration including a bunch of grapes and three types of flower, g.e., by John Wright.
AN UNRECORDED ISSUE OF THE FINEST ITALIAN WORK ON FRUIT. It is not listed in the NUC or in CLIO (Catalogo dei libri italiani dell'ottocento, 1801-1900), and is apparently unknown to any bibliographers. The presence of the two title pages, dated 1835 and clearly marked 'Tomo Primo' and 'Tomo Secondo' appear to indicate that Gallesio published this selection of his plates as a separate and self-contained work before the series of approximately 160 plates was completed, perhaps in order to raise funds to continue publication of the main work. In a note to his subscribers ("Ai Signori Associati", dated 1839 and therefore not present in this copy), Gallesio hints at the financial difficulties of producing such a lavish work, and at pressure from his publishers to issue the work before it was complete, in order to realise a quick return. Although he strenuously denies taking any such course, he then immediately refers to his pleasure at every new injection of capital into the work, seeing it bring improvements in the text and in the printing. He writes: "Io lavorava per la scienza, solo per la scienza . . . senza farmi schiavo nè degli interessi dell'edizione nè di quelli degli Associati . . . Se avessi voluto fare una speculazione, e seguire gli impulsi e i piani degli editori, l'opera sarebbe già finita da molto tempo, ed io goderei un qualche frutto delle mie fatiche. Ma io non ho mai lasciato entrare nei calcoli nè l'interesse degli editori nè il mio: io l'ho sempre sacrificato e lo sacrifico al perfezionamento dell'Opera . . . e ho provata una soddisfazione ogni volta che, con un aumento di spesa ho potuto ottenere un aumento di lume nel testo, o un perfezionamento nella parte tipografica". Sadly Gallesio did not live to complete his work: this statement to his subscribers was issued with fascicule 41 of the Pomona, and formed the final part to the work, despite Gallesio's plans to issue further fascicules and indices to the entire work. At the time of writing the statement, Gallesio envisaged that the complete work would extend to five volumes.
Cf. Nissen BBI 683; Great Flower Books p. 57; Dunthorne 118; Pritzel 3181, all describing the 1817-1839 edition. The present unknown to all bibliographers.
Dr. Elliott, the librarian of the Lindley Library (Royal Horticultural Society), has kindly made his collations of the two Lindley copies available to us. (Both are the 1817-1839 edition.) (2)