S-F. Sertorio - Geoponica - 1873

Stefano-Francesco Sertorio
Geoponica or Treatise on Agriculture
1873

Pp. 99; cm 17.5 × 11.5
Rare and elegant nineteenth-century Italian edition of a practical-moral treatise on agriculture, bound in a precious full brown calfskin binding with dry and gold-tooled fillets, and gold-impressed covers and spine bearing the great pontifical coat of arms (papal tiara topped by a cross, crossed keys of Saint Peter, pastoral staff, and processional cross).

The spine bears in gold letters: ANTONIO — GEOPONICA.

The work, introduced by the letter “To the Reader,” presents itself as a brief yet dense “treatise on agriculture” (Geoponica) written with a didactic and practical purpose. The author declares his intention to publish it at a time of proliferation of pamphlets, hoping it may benefit especially those who love the “divine word,” often cited and linked to agricultural practice.

The text is organized into 15 “Chapters” (capi) numbered, with a final analytical index:
• Chapter I – Merits of agriculture (antiquity, necessity, naturalness; biblical references to Adam, Cain, Noah and Virgilian quotations).
• Chapter V – On tilling the land (with a quotation from Ovid).
• Chapter VI – On manuring the land.
• Chapter VII – On planting trees.
• Chapter VIII – On cultivating trees.
• Chapter IX – On olives.
• Chapter X – On the forest.
• Chapter XI – On the vine.
• Chapter XII – On grains.
• Chapter XIII – On meadows.
• Chapter XIV – On walls.
• Chapter XV – The author gives reason for the brevity of his opus and closes with moral instructions.

The treatise blends concrete agronomic precepts (soil preparation, manures, plantings, olive growing, viticulture, cereal cultivation, meadows and forests) with classical quotations (Virgil, Ovid) and especially biblical ones, in a Christian perspective that valorizes agricultural work as an ancient, noble, and morally elevating activity.

This is a small-format pamphlet, typical of the “edifying” agricultural literature of a united Italy, likely intended for a audience of landowners, parish priests, and educated farmers. The binding with a golden pontifical coat of arms is particularly significant: it almost certainly indicates Vatican provenance or a presentation copy to a high prelate (or to the Vatican Apostolic Library).

Copies of this type, with intact papal heraldic binding and in good condition, are very rare on the antiquarian market.

The work combines bibliographic value (1873 small-format edition with limited print run) with strong historical-collector interest in the history of Italian agriculture, nineteenth-century Catholic culture, and pontifical heraldic bindings.

Conditions: binding in overall good condition, with normal signs of use and leather abrasions typical of age; gilding still clearly legible; spine loose, interior on slightly yellowed paper but complete and readable.

Ideal for collectors of heraldic bindings, Vatican books, the history of agriculture, and small late nineteenth-century treatises of rare origin.