EXPOSITION--LONDON--1851

(EXPOSITION--LONDON--1851)  LA ESPOSIZIONE DI LONDRA OSSIA RACCOLTA DI TUTTE LE NOTIZIE RELATIVE ALLA GRAN MOSTRA COSMOPOLITICA DEL-INDUSTRIA UMANA.           

Venice: Cecchini, 1852. 8vo. Contemporary quarter-calf. (ii), 286 pages, 42 lithographed plates, 2 of which are folding. First edition.

A rare Italian guide book to the Great Exposition, illustrated with forty-two charming lithographic plates including a full page portrait of Paxton, the Crystal Palace's architect.  Included are plates of Hoe's rotary printing press, "La Chitarpa" (a guitar with two fret boards, and an ornately carved book cabinet.  A translation of a poem about the Exposition by Gabrielle Rossetti appears on page 272.  Despite a light stain on the title page, this is a very good copy of a rare book: not cited by OCLC or found in commerce.

 

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