HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Observations on the Volcanos of the two Sicilies as They have been communicated to the Royal Society of London. Naples: [Pietro Fabris], 1776. [Legato con:] - Supplement to the Campi Phlegraei. Being an Account of the Great Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the Month of August 1779. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1779.   A fine copy in contemporary binding of the first edition of Sir William Hamilton's masterpiece illustrated by magnificent plates in splendid handcolouring and considered one of the most beautiful books of the eighteenth century.   Campi Flegrei indicates the vast area around Naples, still characterized today, but since ancient times, by lively and sometimes intense volcanic activity. The work is mainly dedicated to the Vesuvius and its spectacular eruptions, but also to some of the places surrounding it; some of the plates and descriptions are also dedicated to other volcanoes in southern Italy, in particular the Sicilian ones in the Aeolian Islands and Etna. Hamilton directly supervised the work of the illustrator Fabris, who accompanied him on his excursions and who is in fact portrayed together with Hamilton in many of the plates.   In addition to being magnificent from an aesthetic point of view, the work is also considered fundamental in the field of geophysical and volcanological research. The subjects of the plates, in addition to spectacular views, also includes scientific details such as the numerous images dedicated to the craters and lava stratifications on Vesuvius and other volcanoes; plates 42 to 54 reproduce samples of tuff, pumice, types of lava, marble and other volcanic rocks. There are also many breathtaking views of other volcanic locations in the Campania region, illustrations of lakes and wide views of the landscape, spectacular and dramatic nocturnal and daytime eruptions, views of the Gulf of Naples and Posillipo, of Pozzuoli, of the Solfatara, of Porto Paone all' island of Nisida, of Ischia, Ventotene, and Stromboli, of Etna from Catania, of the excavations at the temple of Isis in Pompeii. Finally, even more scenographic, celebrated and iconic are the plates in the Supplement which represent the spectacular 1779 eruption of Vesuvius.   Hamilton was a diplomat, volcanologist, archaeologist, antiquarian and art collector, developing an interest in volcanoes while living in Naples as a British diplomat to the Spanish court. He was also an amateur scientist, having become a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766, to which he submitted numerous detailed and technical observations of volcanic activity around Naples and Sicily, some of which are reproduced here.   3 parts [including Supplement] in 3 volumes, folio (462 x 332mm). Letterpress titles in each volume, title and text in English and French on two columns, 59 splendid hand-coloured plates, framed in black and in an elegant shaded gray in the margins, hand-coloured double-page engraved map, the dedication to Ferdinand IV bound at the end of the supplement volume (traces of adhesive tape on endpapers, some light foxing and soiling, occasional and minimal defects and a few marginal tears not touching plates). Contemporary half calf over decorated paper with red and blue floral motifs, spines titled and decorated in gilt (extremities lightly rubbed, some other minor wear); preserved within marbled paper slipcase with leather spine (light wear). Provenance: probably the Bodmer copy sold at Sotheby's in London in April 1988 (pencil note on front endpaper) - traces of pink illeggible stamp "East Sussex?" to front endpapers.   The lots is accompanied by an export license. (3)

Estimate € 50,000 - 80,000

Sold € 65,000