RARE FIRST EDITION OF THIS TREATISE ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SLUICE OF GOVERNOLO, AS A HYDRAULIC DEFENSE OF THE LAKE OF MANTUA
NO COPY IN USA

Bertazzolo, Gabriele. Discorso del signor Gabriele Bertazzolo sopra il nuovo sostegno, che a sua proposta si fa appresso la chiusa di Governolo, per urgentissima, e molto necessaria provisione del lago di Mantova, al serenissimo, ed invittissimo signore il signore D. Francesco Gonzaga [...]. In Mantova: presso Aurelio, e Lodovico Osanna fratelli, stampatori ducali, 1609.

Folio, 294x194 mm, original cardboard binding; pp. 74, [2]; xyl. engraving at title-page (emblem of the Gonzaga family), head- and final-pieces, initials; xyl. engravings in the text, representing the old plant of the sluice, an old marble plaque of that time, sections and elevations of the sluice as it appeared at that time, the equipment of marble above the supporting facilities, special support structures, the project of the sluice in perspective, the shape of the medals placed in the foundations, etc.

First edition of this treatise on the construction of the sluice of Governolo, built in 1198 to lead Mincio into the Po, divided in two in 1394 by Francesco Gonzaga as evidenced by a plaque in gothic letters placed in the tower then destroyed.
Later, in 1608, the Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga under the direction of Gabriele Bertazzolo, Prefect of the waters and the Author of this work, layd the foundation of the support structures.This guaranteed the adjustment of the water flow of the Po in order to maintain the level of the lakes around the city at the right level and could also serve to contain downstream waters overflowing Po in full.

Provenance: Private library of a Verona noble family. Many handwritten annotations near the text and the illustrations and at last page [Le notacioni che sono su questo libro sono state fatte dal Sig. Doriciglio (?) Moscatteli Gattaglia Prefetto Gente delle acque dello Stato di Mantova, li 15. maggio 1736].

References:
IT\ICCU\LO1E\039391 (only one copy at the Biblioteca della Fondazione Istituto per la storia dell'età contemporanea - Sesto San Giovanni - Milano). OCLC, 875156821 and 457053286 (one copy in France). No copy in USA.

Water-stains. Tear and lack of bottom corner at title-page, which has been partially rebacked; other very old repairs at some page, including the last one, where there is an inscription made in 1736 on the paper of the repair. Overall, a fair copy.