Sir William Hamilton - Campi Phlegraei - 1776-1990

CAMPI PHLEGRAEI – Sir William Hamilton

Monumental Leonardo edition (1990) – Complete Facsimile in 3 Volumes
I propose the most prestigious anastatic reproduction ever made of the absolute masterpiece of world vulcanology. Originally published in Naples between 1776 and 1779, this work by Sir William Hamilton (British Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) fuses scientific observation with the magnificence of 18th-century painting art.

This Leonardo Arte edition (1990) faithfully reproduces the original volumes, preserving the bilingual text (English and French) and the extraordinary liveliness of Pietro Fabris's plates. Hamilton and Fabris ascended to Vesuvius, Etna, and the Aeolian Islands several times to document with unprecedented precision the eruptions and geology of Southern Italy. Publisher: Leonardo (Leonardo-De Luca / Leonardo Arte), 1990. Format: Three volumes in imposing Folio format (height 45 cm). Edition: Limited and numbered edition 115 (Guarantee of exclusivity for the collector).

Iconographic Apparatus: 61 full-page plates, faithfully reproducing the original engravings by Pietro Fabris, famous for their bright light and vivid colors that far surpass the dark engravings of the era. Structure of the 3 Volumes (Page and Plate Count)
Volume I: 104 pages of text (100 numbered + 4 unnumbered) and 2 plates in the text. Volume II: 58 pages (4 indices + 54 comment pages) and 54 spectacular full-page color plates.
Volume III (Supplement): 32 pages (29 numbered + 3 unnumbered) and 5 color plates dedicated to the great eruption of 1779. Total: 194 pages of text and 61 artistic plates.

The work has been preserved with the utmost care in a protected environment: Perfect interiors, high-quality paper that maintains the original freshness. As documented in photos, there are minimal signs of external conservation due to the heft of the work; in fact the rigid protective case shows a reinforcement (gluing) at the bottom, necessary to ensure structural integrity given the considerable weight of the three volumes. This detail, purely conservational, does not affect the bibliographic value of the internal works.

The Campi Phlegraei by Hamilton are considered a "safe-haven asset." While early 18th-century editions fetch staggering prices, this Leonardo 1990 numbered facsimile is already a rare collector’s piece, destined for constant appreciation over time.

Given the grandeur, weight, and value of the work, we guarantee a shipping protocol that will be protected with abundant bubble wrap, cartons, and more. The shipment will be carried out with a well-known express courier, trackable and insured for the full value of the work.