De Nanzio - Esippognosia - 1842

Horse Science: Esipognosia and the Birth of Modern Hippomorphology
A mid-19th-century manual that systematically, with scientific rigor, studies the morphological and external features of the horse, enriched by an appendix dedicated to the ox. Designed as a didactic text for veterinary students, De Nanzio's work stands out for its attention to anatomical nomenclature, aesthetic and functional assessment of the animal, and determination of age and gait. Accompanied by six copper engravings, the volume reflects the growing institutionalization of veterinary science in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. A work that combines specialized dissemination with practical aims, serving both breeders and future veterinarians.
Market value
Items like this, especially if complete with the six engraved plates, can be valued between €200 and €450, depending on their condition and the presence of contemporary bindings. Copies in publisher's bindings or with significant institutional provenance may fetch higher prices.

Physical description and condition
Sharp typographic frontispiece with an ornamental frieze. Some scattered flourishes and browning. Half leather and cardboard binding. 6 illustrated plates outside the text. Pages (2); 4 unnumbered pages; 164; (2).

Full title and author
Esippognosia, or external knowledge of the horse, containing the designation and description of external parts, proportions, beauties and faults, age, coats, gaits, and the selection of the horse, with an appendix on the qualities of the ox.
Naples, printing establishment of Francesco del Vecchio, 1842.
Ferdinando De Nanzio

Context and Significance
The volume represents a key milestone in 19th-century veterinary education, a moment when practical knowledge of horses intertwined with a more systematic and academic approach. The work is situated within the context of the modernization of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which invested in technical and scientific training institutions. The inclusion of the appendix on the ox broadens the interest to the field of animal husbandry in a broader sense.

Brief biography of the author
Ferdinando De Nanzio (19th century) was the director of the Royal Veterinary Establishment and the veterinarian of the Royal Stables, playing a leading role in the dissemination of veterinary education in southern Italy. An author of scientific and practical writings, he contributed to the evolution of the discipline, placing it within an academic and training context.

Printing history and circulation
Printed in Naples in 1842 by the printer Francesco del Vecchio, the volume had mainly educational and institutional circulation. The print run, likely limited, responded to the need to provide updated manuals to students and professionals of the veterinary schools of the Kingdom. The copper-engraved plates increased its practical and scientific value.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Listed in catalogs of nineteenth-century veterinary literature and present in university archives and specialized libraries. It rarely appears on the antiquarian market complete with the plates, which increases its collectible desirability.