Books, Manuscripts and Engravings Auction November 2017

Books, Manuscripts and Engravings

Palazzo Crivelli - Via Pontaccio 12, Milan

Viewing: 17, 18, 19 November 2017 (10/13 – 14.30/18.30)

Auction: 21 November 2017

A very interesting auction characterized by books, manuscripts and engravings ranging from the

15th- to the 20th-century will be held at il Ponte in Via Pontaccio on November 21.

The lots include:

A very important collection of works by Girolamo Fabrici d'Aquapendente (1533-1619) including the first edition of his most renown work De venarum ostiolis. Padova: 1603. The first editions include the first systematic study of the structure, distribution and position of venous valves, the first record of the dissection of embryos and the first printed illustrations of the development of the chick and of the author's earliest surviving treatise on embryology. (Estimate 20,000- 30,000 euros)

Another of the top lots is Lucio Fontana's (1899-1968) rare copy of Concetto spaziale. Milan: 1951. 

This is his first graphical representation of "Concetti  Spaziali" containing 7 lithographic plates signed and dated by the artist. Following the exhibition at Galleria Salto in 1949 Fontana worked on this publication reproducing the original works exhibited at Salto. This is copy n. 18 of a limited edition of only 100 (Estimate 20,000-30,000 euros)

From all the way back to the 15th-century is one of the first printed Breviaries (the first or second; printed in 1474 in Venice). Printed on vellum with beautiful illuminations it is one of only 5 copies known (only 4 are

recorded in libraries around the world of which 2 are incomplete) (Estimate 10,000-15,000 euros).

Of great international interest is also Christian Snouck Hurgronje (1857-1936) Mekka printed in The Hague: 1888-1889. The work owes his fame to being the first photographic documentation of Mecca to be published in the West. (Estimate 7,000-10,000 euros). This is the most valuable work of the section dedicated to the Middle East which starts with 65 lots presented in our auction in Via Pontaccio on November 21 and continues with over 200 lots in Via Pitteri on November 23/24.

Among the curious volumes is a copy of Francesco Scacchi's (1577-1656) De Salubri potu dissertatio. Rome: 1622. A fine copy of the very rare first edition of the work that gives Italy the absolute supremacy on sparkling winemaking over France and the most important XVII treatise on wine. (2,000-3,000)

The auction will continue in Via Pitteri 10 on November 23 and 24.

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