"French-italian Dictionary Taken From That Of Abbot François Alberti De Villeneuve 1807"
Interesting dictionary in two volumes in quarto French-Italian, doubled with its Italian-French reverse published in Turin in 1807 Cajetan-Balbino and the Pomba brothers, printed at the printing house of the Court of Appeal. If Albert's dictionary is a classic, published since the end of the 18th century, this one has a rare specificity, due to the political context. Indeed, it is normally enriched with a glossary concerning art and its various techniques, intended for people making the grand tour. We are under the empire, and this one is addressed to the officials responsible for administering the conquests, and therefore includes instead, a glossary of legal terms in Italian, in order to make their task easier. It is a tool at the service of the new administrators of the different states of Italy. This specificity will disappear in the next editions, replaced again by a chapter on art, once peace has returned. Good general condition, the binding is solid, some rubbing, otherwise very clean (only the spine is in leather). The paper, although rag, has some foxing. An interesting document on the state of the Italian and French languages at the end of the 18th century.