Lippi, C.
Fu il fuoco, o l'acqua che sotterro Pompei ed Ercolano? Scoperta geologico-istorica, fatta dall'autore il di 14 e 26 Ottobre 1810, e da lui scritta nelle lingue latina, inglese, francese, italiana, tedesca, e spagnuola in due lettere. Seguite dalle scritture pro et contra, presentate all' Accademia di scienze di Napoli, per di lei ordine; e dalle decisioni di questa Società, relative al' argomento. Prima edizione Italiana.
Napoli, Domenico Sangiacomo, 1816. 8vo (18.9 x 11.4 cm). [iv], 384 pp.; one folded plate. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Rich gilt spine. Edges yellow.
A very rare work by the Italian geologist Carminantonio [(or Carmine Antonio) Lippi (1760-1823). The author discusses the controversial opinions of his days about the true cause - either water or fire - of the demise of Pompei and Herculanum. This is not as strange as it seems, since it essentially reflects the difference between lahars and pyroclastic flows, and the fate of both towns was in fact different. Small paper chip on rear board, boards a bit rubbed. Scattered foxing, mostly light, somewhat more so on the preliminary text pages, otherwise a very good, complete copy with the folded plate. No recent auction records. Neither in the Cat. BM(NH), nor in Ward and Carozzi.
