Wildman / Soresi - La Cura delle Api - 1771

FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE TREATY OF WILDMAN, TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN
First and only Italian edition, in the translation by Pier Domenico Soresi, of Wildman's "Treatise on the management of bees" (London, 1768) (1734 - 1781), one of the major beekeeping texts of the 18th century.
It is unusual to note that neither of the two previous English editions was accompanied by figures, so that this is the first illustrated edition of the work, which recast, reworking them in original form, the classic beekeeping works of Reaumur, Thorley and Prouteau, extending the discussion also of wasps and hornets.
B.R.A. British bee books, 119. Walker, cit. Accorti, The paper bees, 3708. Cobres, I, 402. Horn - Schenkling, 24185. Sirugo, 152. Niccoli, p. 111.

CONTENTS
Dedication in print to the Duke of Savoy, Vittorio Amedeo III. Some engraved friezes n.t. 3 copper plates folded f.t. finally, containing a total of 18 figures.
The pp. 267 - 273 are of indices and errata; on pp. 275, "Letter over bees written to the authors of the Journal des Sçavans" by Charles Bonnet, popularized by Giuseppe Vernazza.

The author, Thomas Wildman, and his nephew Daniel were known to contemporaries not only for the more scientific aspects of the practices of care and breeding of bees, but also for curiosities such as experiments with these insects starting from the beard of bees, of their own invention. .
"Thomas and Daniel Wildman, uncle and nephew, both achieved fame thanks to displays of tricks with bees that had previously undergone training. Thomas, a man from Plymouth, came to London in 1766, and the newspapers of the time bring his businesses back to the city.
He organized a public exhibition in Islington (London) in 1772. His treatise shows the culture and unusual knowledge of continental beekeeping. "(H.J.O. Walker, Descriptive catalog of bee - books, 1929, p.78).

CONDITION REPORT
Nice tight binding in top condition, clear pages printed on strong paper. Pp XXIV + 291, with three plates folded several times engraved on copper, contemporary repair on the reverse. Coeval binding in full leather, titles and nerves on the spine. First Italian edition made on the English original of 1768. First slightly burnished sheets, torn patch repaired to the title, signatures of possession of the Painter Pietro Giacobini.

FULL TITLES & AUTHORS
Treatise on the care of bees. Containing the natural history of these insects with various ancient and modern methods of governing them and the natural history of wasps and hornets with the means of destroying them. Adorned with branches by Mr. Thomas Wildman; translated from English into the Tuscan speech by Pier-Domenico Soresi.
Turin, F.lli Reycend, 1771.
Thomas Wildmann
Pier-Domenico Soresi