"Observation sur le Vésuve [- sur le Mont-Ethna,- Remarques sur la nature du sol de Naples et de ses environs] et d’autres volcans. Dans une suite de Letres adressées à la Société Royalle. Traduites de L'anglois [...]".

3 parts, 8vo: [10]-73-[1], [4] bl., [2]-46, [4 bl.], [2]-107 pp.; 6 pl.

Contemp. marbled calf, gilt fillet on boards, gilt-tooled spine with raised bands, a.e.g. (worn, caps restored, lacks repainted on lower corners, joints rubbed...).

French translation of vulcanological observations by Sir Hamilton (1730-1803), British archaeologist, vulcanologist and diplomat. As British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples from 1764 to 1800 he was also supposed to promote Britain's commercial interests. There he began to collect antiquities and to study Mont Etna and Vesuvius. Soon after his arrival in 1766 and in 1767, Mount Vesuvius erupted. He sent accounts to the Royal Society in London and therefore was elected a Fellow of the Society. They awarded him the Copley Medal and his papers were published in the Society's journal. In 1772 he published his writings on both volcanoes in a volume called "Observations on Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and other volcanos". This was followed in 1776 by a collection of his letters on volcanoes, entitled "Campi Phlegraei" and ill. by Pietro Fabris. First part of the manuscript contains 3 letters dated 1766, 1767, 1768; the 2nd one dated 1769 and the 3rd 2 letters dated 1770 and 1771. Illustrated with 6 drawings: a hand-coloured plan of the bay of Naples (30 x 32 cm, tear on a fold and right margin) with English captions except the ones on scale (in French), and 5 grey-black ink wash of which 4 show eruptions. Prov. [Georges Petit, without stamp or ms. mention].