Description

ANONYMOUS.
Saggio di Gnomonica. Per d’elevazione di polo settent[rion]e da gradi 44.30 sino a gr. 48 inclusivamente
[Essay on Gnomonics. For elevation of the northern pole from 44.30 degrees up to 48 degrees inclusive]
[S. l., but North Italy:] 1815.

Manuscript in brown ink on paper, bound with strings in three volumes, each 15,5 x 10,5 cm (6.1 x 4.1 inches), 96 pp. running numeration, with drawings in brown, red and yellow ink, each volume with paper wrapper and hand-written title on the cover (light staining and traces of use, but overall good and clean).

[accompanied with:]
2 paper sundials, both copper engravings on paper, mounted on thin card, with metal pieces in the middle.
Il semicerchio per gli orologi [A Semicircle for Sundials]
[Venice: Giacomo Storti 1790].

11 x 17.5 cm (4.3 x 6.9 inches), (light traces of use with tiny holes).

[and:]
Il cerchio per gli orologi [A Circle for Sundials]
[Venice: Giacomo Storti 1790].

14.5 x 14.5 cm (5.7 x 5.7 inches), (light traces of use with tiny holes).

[housed in:]
Folding marbled paper case
[Probably North Italy, circa 1815]

20 x 16 m (7.8 x 6.3 inches), when folded, (minor staining, rubbed on corners, traces of old paper label with numbers).

This charming unique set, composed of pocket-sized manuscripts on gnomonics, bound in three volumes with strings, two paper sundials, and a folding paper case made of two different types of marbled paper was created by an anonymous Northern Italian author.

The manuscript is written in clear Italian and includes charming technical illustrations in various colors. It mainly focuses on vertical sundials designed for latitudes between 44°30’ and 48° north. This geographical area includes most of northern Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, large parts of Austria, Switzerland, as well as regions of southern Germany and central France.

As the manuscript appears to be an original work, the copper-engraved sundials are sourced from the book “Metodo Facile Per Descrivere Gli Orologi Solari” (Easy Method to Describe Sundials) by Giuseppe Toaldo, published in 1790 in Venice. Both sundials were designed to be cut out and used in conjunction with the text. Our examples have been reinforced on the back with thick paper and adorned in the center with metal pieces. Light signs of wear indicate that they were used in practice.