[QUINGLES (Jacopo Francesco de) - AGLIOTI (Paolo)] Spiegazio - Lot 112

[QUINGLES (Jacopo Francesco de) - AGLIOTI (Paolo)] Spiegazioni di due antiche mazze di ferro ritrovate in Messina nell'anno 1733. Scritte dal naufragante, e dall'ardito Accademici della Peloritana Accademia de' Pericolanti con le opposizioni, e note del minacciato, del timido, e del recuperato, e con le riposte de' medesimi naufragante, ed ardito. Venice: Francesco Pitteri, 1740 [colophon: Messina: imprimerie académique pour les Lazzari, 1740]. - In-folio, red basane, gilt roulette on the edges of the boards, smooth spine decorated (period binding). First edition of this rare book by Jacopo Francesco de Quingles and Paolo Aglioti, mentioned on the title as the shipwrecked and the daring. This publication followed the discovery in 1733 of two ancient masses on which was engraved an invocation to the Virgin with the mention of a letter written by Mary to the inhabitants of Messina. A lively controversy arose over the authenticity of these objects, and the Senate of Messina commissioned the Accademia dei Pericolanti, a cultural and scientific institution founded in Messina in 1729 by Paul Aglioti, to study them. These studies are published here. "Opinions were divided: Quingles thought they were two magistrates' badges [...]; the others, led by Aglioti, thought they were war clubs. Aglioti, more than anyone else, strove to demonstrate the authenticity of the letter sent to the Messinians" (Moncada Lo Giudice, in: "Una biblioteca siciliana"). The edition is lavishly illustrated, with a frontispiece, a superb fold-out view of Messina, a large reproduction of the two masses, 27 plates, 8 bands and an engraving in the text. Binding soiled, rubbed and worn, corners dulled. Traces of a faded handwritten bookplate on the title. Fold to frontispiece. Stain in margin of pages 61 to 64. Non-missing tear to folding plate between pages 168-169. Light ink stain on plates 4 and 5 at end. Provenance: label of the G. Pedone Lauriel ancient and modern Italian bookshop in Paris. Pedone Lauriel in Paris.