MAZZELLA, Scipione.

Sito, et antichità della città di Pozzuolo, e del suo amenissimo distretto. Con la descrittione di tutti i luoghi notabili, e degni di memoria, e di Cuma, e di Baia, e di Miseno, e de gli altri luoghi conuicini, con le figure de gli edifici, e con gli epitafi che vi sono ... [Opusculum de Balneis Puteolorum Baiarum et Pithecusarum ... secunda editio ...] et in questa ultima edittione aggiuntovi un ricco apparato delle statue ritrovate in Cuma, a Gennaro dell'anno 1606.

Naples, nella Stamperia diTarquinio Longo, 1606. 3 parts in one vol., 8vo, pp. [8], 284, [4], with fine, large folding woodcut map (220 x 365 mm.) of the bay of Pozzuoli and 19 large woodcut illustration in the text (three repeats); pp. [2], 103, [1], [16]; all title-pages with woodcut printer's devices; a very good, clean copy in boards, c. 1800, spine with ink lettered paper label. Early 19th century ink Ms. ownership inscription 'J.F. Becks' inside front cover; library stamp 'Ex Biblioth. Sac. Liter. Curon.' on front fly-leaf, same stamped in black in centre of front cover. Best edition of one of the earliest descriptions of the numerous classical ruins in Pozzuoli and neighbouring Cuma, Baia and Miseno, originally published in 1591. The very fine large map of the bay of Pozzuoli, and a few more text illustration enlarges this edition. It also contains for the first time the first edition of Antonio Ferro's investigation into a number of ancient Greek statues excavated in Cuma in January 1606. Ferro describes in extraordinary detail the twelve statues and two coins found in an ancient temple just outside the gates of Cuma.Cuma was the most ancient Greek colony in Italy and prospered under Roman rule. Baia with its numerous hot springs had the most fashionable thermal baths in antiquity, and Roman patricians kept their summer residences there. Most of the summer villas have not survived into modern times but some ruins were still visible in the 16th century and are described by Mazzella. The Campi Phlegrei, the fertile volcanic region between Pozzuoli and Naples, are dotted with Roman remains, most described here. Mazzella also has a chapter, which transcribes classical inscriptions found on his investigations.The Opusculum de Balneis (with separate title-page but continuous pagination) describes the mineral springs in Pozzuoli and its surrounding territories and their medical properties, as well as the sulphur caves, the 'forum Vulcani' of the ancients, which resulted in volcanic eruptions throughout the ages. The text consists of an anonymous Latin prose paraphrase of Petrus de Ebulo's De balneis Puteolanis dating probably from the 14th century. This was subsequently incorporated in the Libellus de mirabilis civitatis Putheolorum, published in Naples in 1475 with a preface by Francesco Accolti. The present edition, edited by Scipione Mazzella, includes the original verses by Petrus de Ebulo.This copy lacks 4 leaves in the preliminaries (index) of the first part. But this is corrected at the end where there is an additional first quire of 8 leaves of preliminaries, with the complete index, but with a newly set title-page, still Stamperia Tarquinio Longo and dated 1606.Borroni 7726/5, Lozzi 3830; Fossati Bellani 3864; RLIN locates 5 copies: Getty, Chicago, Pierpont Morgan, Columbia, CCA. For the Ferro: Cicognara 3510, Borroni 5210.

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