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[SICILY] VELLA, Giuseppe (1740-1814); AIROLDI, Alfonso (1729-1817). Codice diplomatico di Sicilia sotto il governo degli arabi. Palermo: Reale stamperia, 1789-1792.
Scarce work (last seen at auction in 1978, RBH) and testimony to one of the most famous literary frauds ever conceived. It is a colossal pseudo-historical work on Arab sources in Sicily composed by Giuseppe Vella and published in good faith by Archbishop Alfonso Airoldi, who also wrote the preface, in which, alongside a few original documents, hundreds of completely invented pieces of information were inserted, and even depictions of Mauritian-Sicilian coins drawn by the author and even some fake papal letters from the 10th century written in a sort of Sicilian vernacular. Vella, originally from Malta, used the opportunity presented by the ignorance of Arabic on the part of Sicilian intellectuals to pass himself off as an interpreter and philologist of the language and was so convincing that in 1785, he obtained the first chair of Arabic at the University of Palermo. After he managed to obtain funding and support from his supporters, and published his first works, suspicions began to arise within the scientific community and in 1796, thanks to the testimony of Joseph Hager (1757-1819), professor of Arabic at the University of Vienna, he was finally exposed and sentenced to 15 years in prison. 6 volumes, 4to, (237 x 170mm). 3 engraved plates to first volume (including 1 fold-out map of Sicily), 13 plates in second volume, several engraved illustrations in text (foxing and browning). Contemporary half-vellum binding with title and numbering gilt to spine.. (6)
ESTIMATE € 800 - 1,200
LOTS
2
ALAMANNI, Louis (1495-1556). Girone il cortese. Venice: Comin da Trino, 1549.
ALAMANNI, Louis (1495-1556). Girone il cortese. Venice: Comin da Trino, 1549.
ESTIMATE € 200 - 300
3
AMMIRATO, Scipione (1531-1601). Dell'istorie fiorentine. Florence: Giunti, 1600.
AMMIRATO, Scipione (1531-1601). Dell'istorie fiorentine. Florence: Giunti, 1600.
ESTIMATE € 300 - 500
10
AUGUSTINUS, Aurelius (354-430). De la cita di dio. Venice: Bartolommeo Miscomini, 1476-78.
AUGUSTINUS, Aurelius (354-430). De la cita di dio. Venice: Bartolommeo Miscomini, 1476-78.
ESTIMATE € 800 - 1,200
