Lettere Scritte Di Pietroburgo Correndo Gli Anni 1811 E 1812. Dal Conte Federigo Fagnani Consigliere Di Stato, E Ciamberlano Della Maesta' Del Re D'italia. (Lodigiani, Luigi). Fagnani, Federigo. Travel

Milano: Dai Torchj di Giovanni Pirotta, 1812., 1812. Very good. - Octavo, 8-3/8 inches high by 5 inches wide. Hardcover, bound in full black straight-grain morocco by Lodigiani titled with elaborate geometrical decorations in gilt on the spine. Elaborate formal gilt decorated frames adorn the front and back covers. The binding is further enhanced with inner gilt dentelles and marbled endpapers, with the binder's discreet oval label at the top corner of the endpaper's verso. All edges are gilt. The bottom corners of the covers are slightly bumped and the leather lightly scuffed. Title & 166 pages, illustrated with a large folding map of Saint Petersburg by Stanislao Stucchi and 5 plates depicting the stove discussed in the third letter. There is occasional minor foxing. A very attractive book. RARE First edition of these six important letters. A 2-Volume edition was published in 1815. The letters are the result of a trip by Fagnani to Saint Petersburg Russia. They describe the customs and social life of the people as well as the political life in Tsarist Russia. More than 150 locations on the folding map are identified at the end of the book. The fine binding is the work of Luigi Lodigiani of Milan with his green engraved oval label, "Lodigiani / Relieur / de S.A.I.". According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lodigiani (1778-1843) was the greatest Italian bookbinder of his time. He had the patronage of many of the most important book collectors of his day. Stanislao Stucchi (1780-18--) was an engraver in Milan early in the 19th Century. He published maps and other prints.