Susanne Schulz-Falster Catalogue Ten - Schulz-Falster Rare Books

The Classics Translated
200 MAFFEI, Scipione. Traduttori Italiani o sia Notizia de’ volgarizzamenti
d’antichi Scrittori Latine, e Greci , che sono in luce.
Aggiunto il Volgarizzamento d’alcune insigni Iscrizioni Greche,
e la notizia del nuovo Museo d’Iscrizioni in Verona. Venezia,
Sebastian Coleti, 1720. £480
8vo, pp. 213, [1] imprint, [2] blank; faint circular stain to margin of
title and Wrst leaf; some signatures lightly browned; contemporary full
vellum.
First and only edition of the Wrst bibliography of Italian translations of classical
literature, with information on the translators and editions. This is followed
by an essay on Greek inscriptions, including the one of the Marmora
Oxoniensia, today in the Ashmolean Museum, and details of the museum
of inscription in Verona. MaVei, (1675–1755), was one of the leading intellectual
Wgures of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century.
Petzholdt 353 (‘nicht ohne Wert’); RLIN lists copies at the Getty Library,
Harvard, Michigan University and Duke.
201 [MAILLET, M. Benoit de.] Telliamed ou Entretiens d’un
Philosophe indien avec un Missionnaire Francois sur la Diminution
de la Mer, la Formation de la Terre, l’Origine de l’Homme, &c.
Amsterdam, l’Honoré & Fils, 1748. £500
Two volumes, 8vo in 4s, pp. [x], cxix (vere 77), 1 blank, [7] contents, [1]
blank, 80, 77–92, 97–112, 121–208; [ii], 231, [I] blank, [3] addenda &
errata; volume one with irregular pagination, but complete; title vignettes
to both volumes; occasional light spotting and browning; bound in
contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt, head of volume two chipped; a Wne
set with discreet crossed out ownership inscription to titles.
First edition, rare, of this early theory of evolution, published, for fear of
prosecution, posthumously and anonymously with the title forming an
anagram of the author’s name. Written and published before Haller, Linné,
Bonnet and Hutton, this early example of evolutionary speculation is remarkable.
Maillet clearly not only had a deWnite conception of evolutionary
susanne schulz-falster rare books catalogue ten
theory and of the production of existing species by modiWcation of their
predecessors, but he also undoubtedly applied the basic maxim of modern
geological science. The explanation of the structure of the globe is to be
sought in the application of the principles established inductively by the
study of the present course of nature to geological phenomena.
Cioranescu XVIII, 41376.
202 MANFREDINI, Vincenzo. Difesa della Musica Moderna e de’
suoi celebri Esecutori. Bologna, Carlo Trenti, 1788. £500
8vo, pp. 207, 1 imprint; uncut in the original printed pale blue
wrappers; unsympathetic reback, with title strengthened in gutter
margin.
First edition of a fascinating contemporary assessment of eighteenth century
music, written in response to Arteaga’s criticism of the respective values of
ancient and modern music. Manfredini shows a sound knowledge of the
vocal repertoire and the conditions of musical life in eighteenth century Italy.
Manfredini (1737–1799), composer and musical theorist, was for many
years Chapel Master of the Italian Opera Company at St Petersburg, Wrst
for Tsar Peter then for Catherine II. After leaving the court in 1769,
Manfredini continued to compose operas for a time but soon devoted most
of his time to writing and teaching. His writings reveal a man in tune with
Enlightenment thought, grappling with the changing nature of music, the
social status of composers and the role music has to play in public life.
Gregory & Bartlett, Catalogue of early Books on Music, p. 163.
Promoting the Manufacturing Industry
203 [MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.] Das Maschinenwesen
und die darüber verbreiteten Vorurtheile. Leipzig, Otto Wigand,
1846. £420
8vo, pp. 40, including subscribers’ list; some marginal foxing; uncut,
with paper spine; from the Donaueschingen library with shelf mark in
mss. to verso of title.
First and only edition of this pamphlet in support of the manufacturing
industry. The express purpose of the publication was to raise public awareness
of the importance of the manufacturing industry, and to counteract its
negative reputation. Parts of it consist of a translation and German adaptation
of Taylor’s Factories and the Factory System. The pamphlet was published
on the occasion of the fourth meeting of German industrialists and
manufacturers in Leipzig, and used by the participants for promotional
purposes, as can be seen by the extensive subscribers’ list, who all ordered
multiple copies for distribution. The Wurttemberg Association of Industrialists
subscribed to 400 copies.
Engelmann supplement, p. 74; not in Holzmann/Bohatta, not found in Kress or
Goldsmiths’, no copy in RLIN or OCLC.