(Born: Brindisi, Italy, 5 October 1759; Died: Pozzuoli, Italy, October 1846) Italian cleric, philosopher, mineralogist & vulcanologist.

A Benedictine monk, Monticelli was from 1792-4 professor of ethics at the University of Naples. He then accepted a political position until 1800. From 1808, he was professor of chemistry at the University of Naples. Monticelli was a member and standing secretary of the Academy of Science of Naples. His studies were of the geology and minerals of Vesuvius and the Phlegraen Fields. His collections were acquired by the Real Museo Mineralogico in Naples.

Biographical references: ABI: I 674, 60-69; II S 56, 292. • Barr, Index to Biographical Fragments, 1973: 182. • Cleevely, World Palæontological Collections, 1983: 207. • Enciclopedia Biografica Cattolicesimo. • Poggendorff: 2, col. 196 & 1429. • Proceedings of the Geological Society, London: 1846, 146-7 [by L. Horner]. • Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 3, 1739-40. • Scherillo, Storia del `Real Museo Mineralogico', 1965. • WBI.

1. Italian, 1823.
Storia | De'Fenomeni Del Vesuvio, | Avvenuti negli anni 1821, 1822 e parte del 1823, | con | Osservazioni E Sperimenti | Di T. Monticelli, | Segretario perpetuo della R. Accademia delle Scienze ec. | e N. Covelli, | Socio del R. Istituto d'Incoraggiamento e di varie | Accadimie stranære; | Letta nella Reale Accademia delle Scienze. | [ornament] | Napoli, | Febbrajo 1823. | Dai Torchi del Gabinetto Bibliografico e Tipografico, | Largo S. Biagio de' Librai n°, 41.

4°: π⁴ b⁶ 1-25⁴ 25⁸; 118l.; [i]-xix, [1], [1]-208, [8] p., one folding table (p. 126), 4 folding plates (showing Vesuvius). Page size: 208 x 130 mm.

Contents: [i-ii], Half title page, "Storia | De'Fenomeni Del Vesuvio, | Avvenuti Nel Corso Degli Anni 1821, 1822 | E Parte Del 1823," verso blank.; [iii-iv], Title page, verso blank.; [v], Dedication to Girolamo Ruffo.; [vi], Blank.; vii-xix, "Prazione."; [1 pg], Blank.; 1-208, Text.; [2 pgs], "Spiegazione Delle Tavole."; [1 pg], "Errata Corrige."; [1 pg], Blank.; [2 pgs], "All' Eccellentissimo Signor," signed Gaetano Parroco Giannattasio.; [1 pg], "Presidenza."; [1 pg], Blank.

Very scarce. Co-authored with N. Covelli. The text describes observations made by the authors on Mount Vesuvius in the years 1821 to 1823, and read before the Accademia delle Scienze.

Niccola Covelli. (Born: Cajazzo, Terra di Lavoro, Italy, 20 January 1790; Died: Naples, Italy, 15 December 1829) Italian chemist & vulcanologist. Covelli was a professor of chemistry at the University of Naples, as well as a member of the city's academy of science.

Bibliographical references: (Covelli) ABI: I 330, 45-58. • Casati, Dizionario degli Scrittori d'Italia, 1925-34. • De Tipaldo, Biografia degli Italiani, 1834-45. • Dizionario Biografico Italiani: 30, 521-4. • Poggendorff: 1, col. 490. • WBI.

Prodromo, 1825

2. Italian, 1825.
Prodromo | Della | Mineralogia Vesuviana | Di | T. Monticelli | Secretario Perpetuo Della Reale Accademia | Delle Scienze Di Napoli | E Di | N. Covelli | Socio Ordinario Della Stessa. | Volume I. | Orittognosia. | Con 19 tavole incise a bolino. | Napoli | Da' Torchi Del Tramater | 1825.

8°: π⁸ B¹⁰ 1-29⁸ 30¹¹; 261l.; [i]-xxxiv, [2], [1]-483, [3] p., 19 folding plates. Page size: 222 x 136 mm.

Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii]-xiii, Dedication to Ferdinando I, signed Teodoro Monticelli and Niccola Covelli.; [xiv], Blank.; [xv]-xvi, "Copia."; xvii-xxxiv, "Introduzione."; [2 pgs], Blanks.; [1]-444, Text.; [445]-460, "Indice Metodico."; [461]-470, "Indic Alfabetico."; [471]-480, "Spiegazione Delle Tavole."; 481-483, "Addizioni."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1 pg], Errata.; [1 pg], "A.S. Ecc.^a Reverend." [all dated April, 1825].

Very scarce. No more published, although an appendix appeared in 1839 [which see next entry]. Co-authored with Niccola Covelli [see note below]. Together Monticelli and Covelli frequently traversed the slopes of Vesuvius, examining the volcanic ejecta and formations. This work is the first portion of a work to describe the whole of their discoveries. Although this is the only portion to appear, it is a remarkably comprehensive and detailed examination of the minerals found in and around Vesuvius.

Niccola Covelli. (Born: Cajazzo, Terra di Lavoro, Italy, 20 January 1790; Died: Naples, Italy, 15 December 1829) Italian chemist & vulcanologist. Covelli was a professor of chemistry at the University of Naples, as well as a member of the city's academy of science.

Bibliographical references: Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 77. (Covelli) ABI: I 330, 45-58. • Casati, Dizionario degli Scrittori d'Italia, 1925-34. • De Tipaldo, Biografia degli Italiani, 1834-45. • Dizionario Biografico Italiani: 30, 521-4. • Poggendorff: 1, col. 490. • WBI.

3. Italian, 1839 [Appendix].
Appendice | Al Prodromo | Della | Mineralogia Vesuviana | Di | T. Monticelli | E Di | N. Covelli | Napoli | Da' Torchi Del Tramater | [short rule] | 1839.

π⁸ 2⁶; 14l.; [1]-28 p., 4 folding plates (of Ætna). Page size: 222 x 136 mm.

Contents: [1-2], Title page, verso blank.; [3]-8, Text.; 9-25, "Sunto | Delle aggiunzioni da farsi al Prodomo | della Mineralogia Vesuviana."; 26-28, "Sunto | della parte geologia."

Rare. This appendix provides additional information to the previous Prodromo that described the mineralogy of Vesuvius.

4. Italian, 1843 [2nd edition].
[General title page:] Philippi Caolini | Regiae Neapolitanae | Scientiarum Academiae Socii | Vita | Auctore | Theodoro Monticelli | Academiae Eidem A Segretis | Editio Secunda. | [ornate rule] | Neapoli | Typis Ariosti | [short rule] | 1843.

[Title page of Prodromous:]

Prodoromo | Della | Mineralogia Vesuviana | Di | Teodoro Monticelli | […one line of titles and memberships…] | e de Nicola Covelli | […one line of titles and memberships…] | Volume I. | Orittognosia | con 19 tavole incise a bolino. | [tapered rule] | Napoli | Tipografia Dell' Ariosto | [short rule] | 1843.

4°: π³ 2-53⁴ 54³; 215l.; [1]-430 p., 19 pages of crystal drawings. Page size: 220 x 178 mm.

Contents: [3-4], Series title page, verso blank.; [5]-24, "Philippi Caolini | Vita."; [25]-54, "Adnotationes."; [55-56], Blanks.; [57]-71, "Elogio | Di | Vincenzo Petagna."; [72]-81, "Note | Del Cav. | Monticelii | Lette | …"; [82], Blank.; [83], Title page of Prodromous.; [84], Blank.; [85]-430, Text.; [At end], 19 plates of crystal drawings.

Very scarce. This collected edition of Monticelli's writings contains a reissue of the 1825 Prdoromous della Mineralogia Vesuviana, together with reprints of his other minor writings.

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