FONTANA, Gregorio.

Papiae [Pavia]: in Typographeo Monast. S. Salvatoris... .1780

4to, pp. (xii), xi, (i), 384, and 3 folding engraved plates. Engraved vignettes. Contemporary mottled sheep, spine gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers, red edges. Two small repairs to spine, a few small wormholes in front endpapers, otherwise a fine copy.

FIRST EDITION of this beautifully produced book, an assembly of fifteen papers and dissertations in mathematics, astronomy, and physics, including the motion of comets, percussion and the strength of materials, various mathematical problems, etc. For a full list of the contents, see Riccardi I, 470–471 (“Bella ediz.”). Fontana succeeded Boscovich in the chair of mathematics at Pavia. This book is a fine example of elegant book production. Printed on superb paper at the monastery of San Salvador, it has several engraved vignettes on the title and preliminary leaves, and a different engraved vignette at the end of each chapter. The three engraved plates are each numbered on an ornamental tablet within the plate.

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