Alessandro Cialdi (1807-1887) - Delle Barche a Vapore e di alquante proposizioni per rendere più sicura e più agevole la navigazione - 1845

CIALDI, Alessandro. On Steamships and on some propositions to make navigation of the Tiber and its mouth at Fiumicino safer and easier. Reasoning...

• Format: In 8° (Octavo)
• Pagination: pp., 416
• Binding: Elegant half-binding from the period (or slightly later) in imitation parchment (or light leather) with bright marbled boards in a cat's eye pattern in blue, green, and red tones.

Glued spine with gold geometric friezes at the headcaps, central medallion motif, and brown leather inlay with title and author impressed in gold: CIALDI - NAVIGAZIONE DEL TEVERE.

An extraordinarily complete copy of this rare iconographic apparatus, provided with all the full engravings as issued, many of which are folded, often missing or damaged in other copies:

• Frontispiece / Opening Plate: Splendid animated perspective view titled "Veduta del Porto Gregoriano da farsi nella foce del Tevere detta comunemente Fiumicino".
• Plate I: "Tavola Grafica delle altezze delle acque..." with hydrographic diagrams and technical details of mechanical components (screws, propellers invented by Mitchell, and anchoring systems).
• Plate II: Structural cross-sections and longitudinal and transverse technical plans of the Piro-Draga "S. Antonio".
• Plate III: Internal section and elevation cross-section of the Piro-Draga "S. Antonio", with meticulous indication of the steam engine and paddle wheels.
• Plate IV: Large hydrographic and topographic map: "Idrografia del proposto Porto Gregoriano...", dedicated to the General Treasurer of S.S. Antonio Tosti, rich in bathymetric data, shoreline lines and an explanatory legend (Index of letters).
• Plate V: Engineering plate with geometric and structural drawings of caissons, piles, chains and harbor defense systems in wood and iron.

An important and renowned treatise on hydraulic and naval engineering, fundamental to the history of communications and technology in the Papal States.
The author, the Commendatore Alessandro Cialdi (1807-1887), here in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Pontifical Navy and Director of Steam Navigation, proposes an organic and scientific plan to modernize river navigation on the Tiber. Through the pioneering use of paddle steamers, steam engines and innovative mechanical dredges (such as the S. Antonio described in minute detail in the plates), Cialdi addresses the centuries-old problem of siltation at the mouth of Fiumicino, designing a new safe artificial commercial port.
The text combines field hydrographic data collected between 1842 and 1844 with a farsighted economic vision for Rome’s trade.

Excellent state of conservation, sturdy hinges, minimal and typical signs of time at the margins of the boards. Fresh spine and well-nerved gilding.