Book ID: 27863 Elogio d'Amerigo Vespucci che ha Riportato il Premio Dalla Nobile Accademia Etrusca de Cortona . . . Con una Dissertazione Guistificativa di Questo Celebre Navigatore. STANISLAO CANOVAI.

An Attempt to Restore the Reputation of Amerigo Vespucci

Elogio d'Amerigo Vespucci che ha Riportato il Premio Dalla Nobile Accademia Etrusca de Cortona . . . Con una Dissertazione Guistificativa di Questo Celebre Navigatore.

Place and Imprint: Firenze: Nella Stamp. De Pietro Allegrini, 1788.
Edition: First edition.
Bibliographical References: Sabin 10704; Palou 42410.
Condition: Slight wear to the edges of the binding; fine copy.
Book ID: 27863

Physical Description

4to, contemporary vellum, gilt lettered spine, a.e. stained red.

Comments

A treatise by Florentine historian and mathematician, Stanislao Canovai (1740-1811), that attempts to restore the reputation of Amerigo Vespucci as the founder of the new world, which was named for him, but he was not generally credited with being the first one there. Canovai makes the case that Vespucci set foot in America one year before Columbus. Canovai's Elogio d'Amerigo Vespucci went through several editions, and the merits of it were debated for decades as new, revised editions appeared. See, for example, a substantial discussion of it in the North American Review, April 1821 (JSTOR). From the library of collector Brent Gration-Maxfield, with his interesting and extensive notes in pencil on the free endpapers, with bibliographical citations and statements (albeit not entirely correct ones) about the rarity of this volume. Skinos book-label on the verso of the front free endpaper. Copies are noted with a frontis portrait of Vespucci, but that is an engraving of a later date, copies of which are sometimes inserted into earlier editions of the book.

Price: $750.00

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