[ORNITOLOGIA] - BETTONI, Eugenio (1845-1898) - Storia naturale degli uccelli che nidificano in Lombardia ad illustrazione della raccolta ornitologica dei fratelli Ercole ed Ernesto Turati. Milan: coi tipi del Pio Istituto del Patronato, 1865-1868.   An excellent copy, rarely available on the market, of what is rightly considered the most beautiful nineteenth-century Italian ornithology book. The work is illustrated by a splendid title and 120 incredibly detailed chromolithograph plates which portray with great realism all the species of Lombard birds in their habitat. The engravings are considered an authentic masterpiece of 19th-century lithographic art of naturalistic nature and, according to some, the work is able to stand comparison with the famous masterpieces of Audubon and Gould.   The naturalist Eugenio Bettoni was commissioned by the Turati family to study their ornithological collection, which included over 20,000 stuffed specimens and a collection of nests. For the realization of the plates Bettoni entrusted himself to Oscar Dressler, a member of the Society of Naturalists of Lusatia, but above all an expert lithographer; he managed to illustrate the various species in their habitats with extremely high precision and quality. On the chromolithographic title there is a stamp of the "Chromolithographic establishment of Oscar Dressler, Milan Via S. Vittore 8". The collection was then donated to the Civic Museum of Natural History in Milan and unfortunately destroyed by a violent air raid on 15 August 1943. Bettoni's book remains as partial documentation, it was financed by the Turatis themselves in one hundred copies and offered to passionate collectors. Cf. Nissen 94; Fine Bird Books p. 59; Ceresoli p.83. A fine copy.   3 volumes, elephant folio (479 x 332mm). Text volume in two parts, the first: 6 pp.nn.; 16 pp.; 85 leaves with the description of the individual plates. The second part with 4 pp.nn.; 96 leaves with the description of the individual tables; 4 unnumbered pp. with index and errata.   The two volumes of plates are divided as follows: the first with and illustrated title and 65 plates of which 8 double-page and two which, although different, bear the same numbering "25"; the second with 55 plates, 6 of which double-page, 7 depictin eggs and one unnumbered and slightly shorter at outer margin (some foxing, the first plate and very few others with a small tear at center fold and a few plates occasionally browned).   Elegant half calf with gilt title and decorations, cloth covers with gilt titles, marbled endpapers (slight staining and rubbing, corners lightly bumped). With the labels of the bindery: "Works carried out in the shop of Amalia Ricchini, Via Bassano Porrone n.6, Milan". The fourth page in the second part of the text volumes contains the following wording: "the proceeds from this work, published in just 100 copies, are sold in full for the benefit of the nascent Pio Istituto for derelict children in Parabiago..". Provenance: Dante Cremonini (bookplate). (3)

Estimate € 8,000 - 12,000

Sold € 10,000