1803 · Milan
by [LANCETTI, Vincenzo (1767?-1851)]
Milan: presso Agnello Nobile, 1803. 2 volumes in one, 12mo (157 x 97 mm). xi, [1], 296; [4], 383, [1] pp. Contemporary tree calf, smooth spine with red and dark green morocco lettering pieces, small gilt Montgolfier balloon tool at top and bottom, yellow red-sprinkled edges. First complete edition of an epic poem on ballooning and the first balloon flights. In elevated verse, the poem provides a history of aerostation and technical information on the construction of the first balloons. Not only a rare choice of topic for the genre, Lancetti's poem is also, with twenty cantos in ottava rima, several containing 130 to 160 stanzas, (truncated)