MAFFEI Scipione. Rime e prose. Parte raccolte da varii libri e parte non liu stampate.
Venice, S. Coleti, 1719 4to: engraved vignette on title-page; early 19th century vellum-backed boards, black morocco titling label; some yellowing. An interesting collection of pieces by the polymath Maffei. The first part devoted to poetry includes a section headed Poesie Musicali in which there are two libretti for oratorios and several cantate for three, two or solo voices. The Prose section reprints several articles which had appeared in the Giornale de' Letterati d'Italia of which Maffei had been one of the founders. One of these is his famous account of the new instrument invented by Bartolomo Cristoforo which is acknowledged as the first pianoforte; a plate shows the mechanism. A letter to Vallisnieri discusses the formation of lightning. He draws on his own experience during a storm in the Appenines which helped form his theories which he acknowledges to be unorthodox.
£1200
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