Vassalli - Il Bolide - 1786

RARITY: SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY ON 18TH-CENTURY ASTRONOMY
ABSTRACT
A rare scientific memory dedicated to the observation of a large bolide that appeared in the Italian skies on September 11, 1784. The work, written by Antonmaria Vassalli, professor of philosophy at the Regio College of Tortona and member of the Royal Agricultural Society of Turin, analyzes the luminous phenomenon according to the principles of 18th-century physics. The volume also includes a second important study devoted to solid bodies and the nature of matter, showing the author’s interest in problems of natural philosophy. Printed in Turin at the Royal Printing House in 1786, it represents a testimony to the scientific climate of the Age of Enlightenment, when astronomical and meteorological phenomena were investigated through observation, experiment, and theoretical reasoning.

WHY TO BUY
INDUSTRY-LEADING ILLUMINIST SCIENCE – An authentic document of 18th-century Italian scientific research on celestial phenomena.
HISTORICAL METEOROLOGY AND ASTRONOMY – An important testimony to the early rational analyses of bolides and meteors before modern meteorology.
TORINO ROYAL PRESS 1786 – Elegant edition produced by the prestigious Savoyard typography, intended for scientific and academic circles.
AUTHOR OF PHILOSOPHICAL-SCIENTIFIC SCOPE – Work by a professor engaged in the diffusion of natural philosophy and new experimental knowledge.

MARKET VALUE
For a complete copy of the original Turin edition of 1786, in period binding and good conservational condition, the market value can be estimated between €600 and €800. Copies with scientific provenance, dedications, or particular bibliographical features can fetch higher values.

CONDITION
Period full leather binding in brown morocco, smooth spine decorated in gold with inlaid panel and titles impressed; boards with gilded frames. Paper with some browning and physiological and normal age-related foxing. Some margins show small defects and light wear. Binding with superficial abrasions, especially to boards and spine. Presence of “Con permissione.” In old books with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. This listing contains AI Visualizations. Please refer to the original photographs to verify the object’s actual condition. Images are an integral part of the description. Pp.: (4); 44; 2nn; 114; (6).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Memoria sopra il bolide.
Torino, nella Stamperia Reale. [1786].
Antonmaria Vassalli.

CONTEXT
During the 18th century transient celestial phenomena, such as comets, meteors, and bolides, became the subject of growing scientific interest. Direct observation of the luminous phenomenon was used to understand the structure of the atmosphere, the nature of celestial bodies, and the relationships between matter, motion, and heat. Vassalli’s work fully situates itself in the Italian Enlightenment culture, characterized by the dialogue between natural philosophy, mathematics, and empirical observation. The presence of a second discourse devoted to solids in general broadens the volume’s interest toward the physical study of matter.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Antonmaria Vassalli was an Italian clergyman and teacher active in natural philosophy in the second half of the 18th century. Professor at the Regio Collegio di Tortona and member of the Royal Agricultural Society of Turin, he participated in the cultural movement that sought to integrate traditional philosophical instruction with the new scientific discoveries of the modern age. His writings testify to an interest in experimental physics, astronomy, and the rational study of natural phenomena.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
The work was published in Turin in 1786 by the Stamperia Reale, one of the main Savoyard printing houses of the 18th century. The scientific memoirs of this period were often intended to circulate within academic circles, scientific societies, and among private libraries of scholars and collectors. The copy preserves typical features of late 18th-century fine production: small format, quality paper, and period binding.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Catalogue général.
Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze.
SBN – Servizio Bibliotecario Nazionale.
WorldCat.
USTC – Universal Short Title Catalogue.
CERL Thesaurus.
Lalande, Bibliographie astronomique.
Poggendorff, Biographisch-literarisches Handwörterbuch zur Geschichte der exacten Wissenschaften.