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Books, Autographs & Prints

Wednesday 20 November 2024 e Thursday 21 November 2024, 04:00 PM • Rome

155

Redi, Francesco

Experiences about different natural things and especially those brought to us from India, 1671

Estimate

€ 500 - 700

Sold

€ 1.290

The price includes buyer's premium

Information

Florence, All'Insegna Della Nave, 1671. In 4°. Title page in red and black with Medici coat of arms, 6 plates outside the text at the end of the volume, marginal foxing but otherwise a splendid example in beards, 18th century binding in half green leather and cardboard. Ownership note on the title page of the Marquis Simone Francesco Boccella, Lucca.

Specialist Notes

Original edition of great scientific interest.
The work is addressed to Father Atanasio Kircker, supporter of spontaneous generation and opponent of Redi. The author's intent is to refute the absurd beliefs spread by Franciscan missionaries from the Indies and the Americas on the virtues of stones, plants, tropical drugs, "Pusu" and "Ginsing" herbs, fish, ciap pepper, China fennel, spiders and various other things that many scientists of the time believed, including Kircker. Of note is a disquisition on tobacco and nicotine with the various effects from different regions (pp.40-46), on the properties of the electric torpedo and many other valuable pieces of information. The six tables illustrate these "Mirabili virtù" that were under discussion.