Fungorum Agri Ariminensis Historia by BATTARRA, GIOVANNI ANTONIO - 1755

Faventiae: Typis Ballantianis, 1755. First Edition. Full Vellum. Very Good. 4to (27 x 20 cm). Contemporary Italian vellum binding over boards.19th century bookplate of the Baron de Warenghien on front paste down. Collation: [I-iv], v-vii, 1-80 pp. + 40 copper engraved plates. The text and plates are in very good condition. All edges have speckled red inking. This first edition offers notes on published and unpublished mycological literature along with the author's views on the theory of spontaneous generation from putrefaction or from the "decayed nutritive juice." The latter would provide reproduction "by seed." There are notes of practical interest, such as on how to distinguish poisonous mushrooms… and their therapeutic qualities. The work concludes with descriptions of around 300 kinds of mushrooms, divided into eight classes.

The classification criteria is given by the external form, judged by Battarra to be a more certain and practical method of classification, than that used by Gleditsch in his Methodus fungorum of 1753. (notes from translation of Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani VII p. 236) (Nissen BBI 95; Pritzel 490; Volbracht, 9)