Catalogue Number 7 - Susanne Schulz-Falster

8vo, pp. viii, 303, with one folding engraved table and 8 large folding
printed tables, prelims and signature g misbound; some light spotting
and foxing throughout, due to paper quality; contemporary marbled
sheep, spine decoratively gilt, with gilt-lettered spine label; discreet
repairs to head and tail of spine; a good copy with a presentation
inscription by l’Ingenere Folchi, a member of the Commission, to his
fellow member and well-known scientist Giovanni Fabbroni, on verso
of title page.
First and only oYcial edition of the document introducing metrication in
the Roman States. Metric weights and measures were one of the permanent
outcomes of the French Revolution, and in the early nineteenth century
they were introduced in Italy. Scarpellini, the head of the Commission of
Weights and Measures, begins with a brief theoretical essay on the principles
and advantages of the new system of metric weights and measures and
on decimal calculation in general. He gives a brief history of its introduction
in Italy.
In individual chapters measures of length, surface area, capacity, and
weight are covered, each followed by extensive conversion tables, including
detailed notes and examples. Coins are also covered. The far-reaching eVect
of the reforms become obvious when one sees the large number of individual
non-metric measures that were in use, especially in areas like winemaking,
where bottles, casks, barrels were all used and speciWc conversion
tables had to be prepared.
It is rather appealing to Wnd an oYcial publication such as this with a
presentation inscription by one of the collaborators to another.
Uncommon, RLIN and OCLC record copies at the University of Michigan, Oklahoma
and, aptly, the American Academy in Rome.
67 SCHLOSSER, Johann Georg. Briefe über die Gesetzgebung
überhaupt, und den Entwurf des preussischen Gesezbuchs
insbesondere. Frankfurt, im Verlag bei Johann Georg Fleischer,
1789. £450
8vo, pp. [ii], 345, [2] errata; occasional light foxing; contemporary buV
boards, spine with gilt-lettered spine label, chipped; spine sunned and
extremities rubbed, sign of earlier spine label; shelf mark to front free
endpaper.
First edition, uncommon, of this interesting collection of essays on the
codiWcation of the law, on civil and criminal law, and especially on the Prussian
legal code. In four ‘letters’ Schlosser (1739–1799), Goethe’s brotherin-law
and founder of the historical school of law (Historische Rechtsschule),
concentrates on separate legal questions. In the Wrst, addressed to the Italian
legal reformer Filangieri, he questions the beneWt of a general reform of the
legal code at the present time. In the second section he discusses the origins
of laws, especially of civil laws. The remaining two concern the proposed
reform of the Prussian legal code together with speciWc comparisons be-
susanne schulz-falster rare books catalogue seven
tween Schlosser’s own suggestions and the reformed code. In his discussion
of the Prussian legal code, which was to embody the great ideals of the law
of nature and the Enlightenment, such as freedom of religion and conscience,
the separation of powers and the indipendence of the judiciary, he
quotes repeatedly from Beccaria. Overall he questions the eVectiveness of
the enlightened principles, when put into action by the normal civil servants.
NUC records two copies (DLC, MH), RLIN adds the University of Chicago.
Anatomy of Virgins
68 SINCERUS, Amandus. Neu entdeckte und kurtze doch
gruendlich gefasste Jungfern Anatomie, darinnen nach den
allerneuesten Experimenten das Frauenzimmer sambt allen ihren
Eigenschaften vorgestellet, allen Candidaten des Ehestandes zu