Quarter Vellum.
1828
by Camusso, Eugenio
1828. Quarter Vellum. . Good.. A beautiful manuscript on sundials that synthesizes together four prior works on the subject, one of the sources being un-locatable. Small folio, 32 by 21 cm. 226, [8] pp. Illustrated with 84 drawings, some simple geometric diagrams, others, somewhat more elaborate and with a more decorative quality (although not necessarily so intended by the drafter), and many tables. With a rather extensive table of content (Indice) at the end, running 8 pages. Camusso explicitly states that he is synthesizing the works of four authorities on the subject: a 16th century Carthusian monk Giambattista Vimercato of Milan, author of "Dialogo della descrittione teorica et pratica de gli horologi solari"; Professor Rivard of Paris, author of the 18th century work, "Traite de la Sphere"; Luigi Terzi, author of "Gnomonica Grafica", a work on designing sundials which was published just five years prior to this manuscript; and a 17th century Franciscan friar from Torino named Girolamo Cantoni. (We could find no published works by Cantoni.) Camusso's manuscript is organized into four volumes, here bound together, each corresponding supposedly with the work of one of the named sources. Camusso himself was a Piedmont region -- he calls himself a Cavorese, or someone from Cavour. The text is primarily in Italian, with about 16 pages of problems and summary near the end in French. Condition: moderate wear to binding, with small chip to vellum, lower spine extremity. Ink acidification on title causing inconspicuous cut or fissure to page, which if handled with care, should not pose a problem to use. Minor acidification elsewhere, and light scattered soiling.
(Inventory #: 005967)