The Eruption of Vesuvius in 1872, by Professor Luigi Palmieri, of the University of Naples; Director of the Vesuvian Observatory. With notes, and an Introductory Sketch of the Present State of Knowledge of Terrestrial Vulcanicity, The Cosmical Nature and Relations of Volcanoes and Earthquakes. With Illustrations

London: Asher & Co, 1873. First English Edition. Cloth. Very Good. First English Edition. [4], [1]-148 pages + 8 plates (one folding). 8vo (9 7/8 x 6 1/2 inches). Publisher's original brick cloth with gilt decoration of Eruption of Vesuvius 1872 on front panel. "Palmieri, Vesuvius" in gilt on spine. This copy has been expertly recased with original spine laid down and endpapers renewed. Bright and clean internally, noting remnants of a few old (dealer?) prices and other notations at head of title page. Presents nicely. Cloth. Also known in blue cloth (no precedence that we are aware of). Translated from the original Italian (L'incendio vesuviano del di 26 aprile del 1872) by Robert Mallet. Professor Luigi wrote nine papers mentioning Vesuvius according to Mallet, who notes the primary value of this short account being Luigi's in person observations of the eruption and his use of what Mallet terms his seismograph (illustrated on the folding plate VIII):

"The following Memoir of Signor Palmieri...brief as it is, embraces two distinct subjects, viz., his narrative as an eye-witness of the actual events of the eruption as they occurred upon the cone and slopes of the mountain, and his observations as to pulses emanating from its interior, as indicated by his Seismograp, and as to the electric conditions of the overhanging cloud of smoke (so called) and ashes, as indicated by his bifilar electrometer, both established at the Observatory...The narrative of the evefnts of the reuption is characterised by exactness of observation and a sobriety of language - so widely different from the exaggerated style of sensational writing that is found in almost all such accounts...." (Introductory Sketch p 2)

The Introductory sketch by Mallet is 78 pages long and is worthwhile, containing historical notes, and expert commentary on the state of knowledge at the time. Mallet, a geophysicist, studied earthquakes in some depth and published on the same. Wikipedia notes "On 9 February 1846 he presented to the Royal Irish Academy his paper, "On the Dynamics Of Earthquakes", which is considered to be one of the origins of modern seismology. He is also credited with inventing the word "seismology" and some related words, e.g. the isoseismal map, which he used for his research. He also invented the term epicentre." Another of his papers was "On the Objects, Construction, and Use of certain new Instruments for Self-registration of the Passage of Earthquake Shocks". Given his experience, Mallet was an excellent choice to translate and comment on this work by Palmieri.