Descrizione

[16] + 200pp., illustrated with an additional engraved title and with 4 (of 5, lacking the pl. of the Vesuvius) folding plates and 4 plates out-of-text and with 19 illustrations in text (of which 7 full-page), woodcut ornament on title page, some ornamented initials, text in Italian, text clean and bright with only some occasional small stains and soiling, recent binding in fine condition (quarter-leather, spine with gilt title, marbled boards), 23cm., text in Italian, small inscription on title and in margin of p.[6], good condition, rare, [This is the first book about the famous Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher (Ghysen 1602 – Rome 1680), in which Petrucci, a follower of Kircher, defends his views of the “mirabilia”, the marvels of nature and culture. The plates are taken from various of Kircher’s works. The plates and illustrations show a.o. a map of South-Africa (folding), Speculum ustorium (folding, with 3 very small perforations), a funeral chamber (folding), obelisks (folding), 4 plates of Chinese flowers, some extraordinary creatures, etc. // Ref.: De Backer-Sommervogel IV col.1076-1077, Graesse V 241], G96668