Kutze Einleitung sur Italianischen Sprach

Manuscript on paper.  Small 4to.  205 x 155 mm. 8 x 6 ¼  inches.  96 pp., plus initial and final blanks.  Written in ink on good quality laid paper.  Bound in full contemporary calf, all edges gilt; a few minor marks and stains to the paper stock, otherwise very good condition.                                              

An inscription reading "Therese Comtessa de Christalnigg, 1757" appears on the front pastedown and the book label of Oskar Göshen, dated 1865.

A beautifully written and carefully crafted manuscript volume, written in a very neat and legible hand, containing the conjugation of Italian verbs and rules of grammar.  The manuscript was written by the Countess of Christalnigg in the mid-18th century and reflects educational practices of noble women in the 18th century.  The Countess Theresa's home was at the Palais Christalnigg in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, about 40 miles from the Italian border. 

The opening page of the manuscript begins with a series of alphabets and short directions about pronunciation.  This is followed by a list of the chapters in the manuscript; including rules and exercises explicating "nomen, pronomen, verbum, participium, praepositio, adverbium, interjection, conjunction . . ."  The lessons  are written out in a beautiful German script and examples are in both German and Italian.  As the manuscript progresses the emphasis is on conjugation of verbs and vocabulary. 

This manuscript is a precious survival of a highly educated and gifted women whose dedication to the Italian language is manifest in this highly crafted and careful workbook obviously meant to be a part of a greater library of Italian books.