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CLASSIC OF SURVEYING & INSTRUMENT-MAKING
RARE LAST (EXPANDED) ED. WITH 29 NEW ENGR. ILLUSTRATIONS
FABRI, Ottavio. L'Uso della Squadra Mobile, con la quale per teorica, e pratica si misura geometricamente ogni distanza, altezza, e profondità; ... accresciuta in questa terza edizione di parecchie istruzioni, ..., ec. da Giovanni Vettori.
Trento, "Stamparia Vescovile Paroniana" (= Giambattista Parone, printer to the Diocese of Trent), 1753. 4to. With engraved architectural title-page and letterpress title-page (each with the arms of the diocese), 1 unnumbered folding and 3 numbered illustration plates, 25 engraved illustrations in the text (mostly 8.5 x 10.5 cm but 4 nearly full-page; irregularly numbered I-XXIV), engraved arms of the dedicatee, 1 engraved pictorial initial letter, 8 woodcut head and tail pieces (plus 3 repeats), 9 woodcut decorated initial letters (plus 16 repeats). Richly gold-tooled contemporary tanned sheepskin, silk ties, gilt edges.
| Orders and Information | € 3500 |
Ninth copy located of the "third" (actually fifth) and last edition, revised, expanded and extensively illustrated with new plates, of a classic work on surveying and mensuration, with instructions and patterns for making a theolodite. The first edition, published at Venice in 1598, apparently had illustrations only in the text (a plate included in some copies is said to have been engraved in 1607) but gave instructions for constructing the theolodite shown in the folding plate of later editions. There were further editions in 1615, 1670 and 1673, but the book was revised and expanded for the present edition by the Venetian architect Giovanni Vettori (active 1753-1760) and more extensively illustrated for him by the engraver Giuseppe Filosi (active 1732-1753). The large folding plate (19.5 x 27.5 cm) showing the theolodite was probably designed to be cut up by the person who wished to make one, the paper scales, pointers, etc. being pasted on the surface of the instrument, which might be made of metal, wood or cardboard. The theolodite is shown again in the first plate in the text, and other plates show its use for measuring height, distance, depth, etc. in a wide variety of circumstances, both on land and onboard a ship. The book covers the theory as well, and the three numbered plates at the end show plane and solid geometrical figures, and scales of inches ("oncie") for twenty-five Italian cities (varying from 19 to 48 mm). Two copies are known of another issue, dated 1752.
It is not clear why the Diocesan press at Trent chose to publish this book, dedicated by the printer to the Venetian nobleman, Francesco Badovaro (or Badoer). Most likely it was at the impetus of the architect Vettori, who had perhaps executed some work for the diocese. That might explain the book's rarity, as they might not have easily reached the potential buyers outside the region and may have printed a very limited edition. In any case, they spared no pains to make a luxurious book of it, not only through the many new copperplate illustrations, engraved title-page and engravings for the dedication, but also with the woodcut letters and decorations. The roman type used for the main text is surprisingly modern for the period.
With the 1943 bookplate of Svend Fridolf Jacobsen (by J. Britze), with a maritime scene. In very good condition, with only occasional minor spots or stains. The binding is good, though the spine is slightly damaged and the finisher apparently used a poor grade of gold for the tooling, as much of it has oxidized or even rubbed off, though the tooling itself remains clear. A very rare expanded and extensively illustrated edition of a classic of surveying.
