OLIVI (Giuseppe). - Lot 24

OLIVI (Giuseppe). Zoologia adriatica ossia Catlogi ragionato degli Animali del Golfo e delle Lagune di Venezia; preceduto da una Dissertatione sulla Storia fisica e naturale del Golfo; e accompagnato da Memorie, ed Osservazioni di Fisica Storia naturale ed Economia. Bassano, 1792. -In-4, 268 x 202: (6 ff.), 30 pp., (2 ff.), pp. 31-334, (1 blank f.), XXXII pp. 9 plates. Bradel-style cream paper boards, smooth spine (19th-century binding). Rare and sought-after first edition of the first comprehensive zoological study of the Gulf of Venice. Dedicated to the naturalist Giuseppe Gioeni (1747-1822). The author, Italian naturalist Giuseppe Olivi (1769-1795), was one of the precursors of modern zoology. In this work, he presents a reasoned catalog of the animals of the Gulf and lagoons of Venice, preceded by a dissertation on the physical and natural history of this region. The book concludes with an unpublished letter from K. Strange, on the sponges of the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Italy, followed by a second letter from Father Vio on the nature of marine sponges, both commented on by Olivi. The edition is illustrated with nine fold-out plates depicting crabs, crustaceans, mollusks and more. Copy in very good condition, bound in slightly later boards. There is a handwritten note pasted in the inner margin of the title, stating: "Purchased in Milan, January 1812: 8 Milanese pounds = about 6K." Marginal wear to boards. The first two leaves are misplaced, and should have been placed before page 1. Restoration in the inner margin of these two leaves.