Sir William Hamilton - Campi Phlegraei - 1990

CAMPI PHLEGRAEI – Sir William Hamilton

Monumental Edition Leonardo (1990) – Complete Facsimile in 3 Volumes
I propose the most prestigious annalastic reproduction ever realized of the world’s absolute masterpiece of volcanology. Published originally in Naples between 1776 and 1779, this work by Sir William Hamilton (British Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) blends scientific observation with the magnificence of 18th-century pictorial art.

This Leonardo Arte edition (1990) faithfully reproduces the original volumes, preserving the bilingual text (English and French) and the extraordinary vivacity of Pietro Fabris’s plates. Hamilton and Fabris ascended Mount 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 an 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 Fabris’s original glories, renowned for their brilliant light and vivid colors that far surpass the era’s grim engravings. Structure of the 3 Volumes (Page and Plate Count)
Volume I: 104 pages of text (100 numbered + 4 n.i.) and 2 full‑page plates. Volume II: 58 pages (4 index pages + 54 comment cards) and 54 spectacular full‑page color plates. Volume III (Supplement): 32 pages (29 numbered + 3 n.i.) 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: pristine interiors, high-quality paper that retains the original freshness. As documented in photographs, there are minimal signs of external conservation due to the book’s bulk; 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 inner works.

The Campi Phlegraei of Hamilton are considered a “safe-haven asset.” While early 18th‑century editions fetch staggering prices, this Leonardo 1990 numbered facsimile is already a rare collectible piece, destined for steady 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, appropriate 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.