The Truffles from Maxim's: Raymond Oliver's copy

Vigo, Giambernardo. I tartufi. Poemetto. Tradotto dal latino.

Turin, nella Stamperia Reale, 1776.

4to. (2), LV, (1) pp. With a woodcut printer's device and an engraved half-page headpiece. Contemporary full calf, spine gilt. Blue marbled endpapers. All edges red.

 4,500.00

First Italian edition of one of the earliest works on truffles, also published in Latin ("Tubera terrae") in the same year, with fine provenance. Couched as a learned poem, it discusses all aspects of the gathering of truffles (as shown in the engraving), including soil conditions, weather, and conditions for truffle hunting. Giambernardo Vigo (1719-1805) taught Italian, Latin and Greek rhetorics at the University of Torino and was a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences.

Binding somewhat rubbed; interior brownstained. From the collection of the French cuisinier Raymond Oliver (1909-90), long the legendary chef of Maxim's, with his bookplate ("Rouvier de Vaulgran") on front pastedown. Rare; only eight copies in libraries worldwide outside Italy (via OCLC).

References

Westbury (Italian Cookery Books) 223 (this copy cited). Vicaire 864. Paleari Henssler p. 757. ICCU TO0E\000827.

Stock Code: BN#52067 Tags: , ,