Volcanology. DELLA TORRE. Histoire et phénomènes du Vésuve.

First French edition. Della-Torre, librarian of the Bourbon Museum, scientist and volcanologist, observed the eruptions of Vesuvius in 1751 and 1754. In this work, published in Italian in 1755, he does not limit himself to describing the eruptions but the characteristics of the volcano, but tries to understand the mystery and physical laws of the earth. To complete his exposition he referred to what had been written on the subject from Antiquity. This French edition has been expanded: it also contains the "Dissertation critique" by Father Gaetan d'Amato (p. 295 - 370) and, finally, the interesting additions by Della Torre himself. The plates folded out of the text at the end of the volume depict the phases of the eruptions.

Quérard IX, 505.

Small 8vo, 168 x 95 mm. Contemporary marbled roan binding, gilt title and rules on spine, marbled endpapers, red edges. Pages XXIV, 399, 1 blank. One engraved folded map depicting Naples and its surroundings, 5 folded plates at the end of the volume with views of Vesuvius. Heraldic ex libris surmouted by a marquis crown glued to the insidecover and the verso of the endpaper. Slight traces of use to the binding, a good copy.