TOALDO (G.). Dei conduttori per preservare gli... Lot 37

TOALDO (G.). Dei conduttori per preservare gli edifizi da' fulmini [...] Venice, Storti, 1778. Small in-4, red morocco, richly ornamented spine with ribs, large gilt composition framing the plates with central floral motifs and spandrels, gilt roulette on the cups, gilt tr. (Italian binding of the period). 1] XII -104 pp. Second enlarged edition of this important work on the use of lightning rods to protect public and private buildings with descriptions of the devices placed on the Campanile of San Marco and the Torre della Specola in Padua. It is illustrated with an in-text figure as well as 2 off-text plates. Abbot Toaldo (1719-1797), a fervent defender of the ideas of Benjamin Franklin, was appointed to the chair of astronomy in Padua in 1762. He paid particular attention to the study of atmospheric electricity. Precious copy in period morocco.