Dissertazione sopra I Vampiri.
Napoli / Naples: Pesso Philippo Raimondi, 1789. Second Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. (iv) (i) - (xxxii) (1)- (16),1-230pp. a–b8 (a1+*2) A–O8 P4. Contemporary vellum, sprinkled edges. A significant early work on Vampires, the first edition of which predated R. P. Dom Augustin Calmet's "Dissertations sur les apparitions des anges, des démons et des esprits, et sur les revenants et vampires de Hongrie, de Bohême, de Moravie et de Silésie" by two years. The author Giueseppi Davanzati (1665-1755), had a broad theological and secular education before serving as a papal representative, and later, archbishop of Trani before being named patriarch of Alexandria. The second quarter of the 1700s saw an outbreak of reports of vampirism from Germany and Eastern Eurpope, which sparked a heated debate within the church. The pope asked Davanzati to study the matter closely and prepare a response on behalf of the church; this was published as "Dissertazione sopra I Vampiri" in 1744. In it Davanzati concluded that vampire reports were most likely the result of human delusion, and should be treated as such, although it was possible that these fantasies had a diabolical background. Rare. Montague Summers remarked in 1933 that the British Museum lacked a copy of Davanzati and this is still the case as far as early editions go, although they now have a copy of the 1998 reprint. Summers needed to be cautious when dealing with Davanzati who was of too rational a disposition for his liking (when compared for instance to Calmet), although conceding that he had much of theological importance to bring to the matter in hand. Caillet 2824. From the collection of Romolo Runcinine with his neat ownership signature and acquisition details ("Napoli 1988") on the rear free endpaper. Runcini (1925–2014) was a university professor, book collector, and authority on gothic and fantastic literature. Literature: F. P. de Ciglia, "The Archbishop’s Vampires," Archives internationales d’histoire des sciences, 61, 166–167 (juin–décembre 2011). Vellum very slightly rubbed, hint of darkening to the pages, overall a lovely VG+ copy. Item #57560
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