A complete set in 13 fascicules (1-12 plus 12bis) of the series of architectural designs and projects from the 1890 fair in Torino, 100 plates total plus approximately 91 total pages of text distributed across three of the fasciscules. Large folio (approximately 18 1/2 x 13 1/4 inches). Original publisher's wrappers, contents loose as issued. Some wear along spines of wrappers, fascicule 1 with old tape repairs to covers and old ownership stamp, light toning, overall excellent. Torino: Tip. e Lit. Camilla e Bertolero - Editori, 1891-1899.

In Torino in 1890, the first Italian exposition of architecture was held. Prior to this, architecture was mixed in with the fine, decorative, and industrial arts. The program was published in the February 1890 issue of the magazine "L'ingegneria Civile e le Arti Industriali." The exhibition had 657 participants, representing a large swatch of the Italian architecture of the day, divided into four sections: "architettura" (both ancient and modern), "industrie artistiche attinenti all'architettura," "pubblicazioni di architettura", and "piani di città". It was housed in the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in the Valentino district of the city and stayed open for approximately two months, welcoming over 40,000 visitors.

In the years following the exposition, influential Italian architect and engineer Daniele Donghi (1861-1938) put together this series of portfolios showcasing architectural designs and projects from the fair. In his preface to the series, Donghi writes, "A ricordare la Prima Esposizione Italiana di Architettura tenutasi a Torino nel 1890, la solerte Ditta Editrice Camilla e Berolero pensò di compilare una pubblicazione che riproducesse la maggior parte dei migliori lavori esposti. Il sottoscritto, incaricato della compilazione, credette utile di procedere nella scelta in modo che dalle Opere riprodotte riuscisse possibile formarsi un concetto dello sviluppo preso in questa seconda metà di secolo dall'arte architettonica, e della tendenza di questa alla razionalità, ossia alla logica e razionale corrispondenza tra la forma decorativa e la forma costruttiva."

The series also contains a review by Donghi of the exposition, and biographies of many of the architects whose work is included here. Some of these featured architects include Tancredi Attendoli, Tito Azzolini, Luigi Bazzani, Pietro Berti, Emilio Bignami-Sormani, Camillo Boito, Guglielmo Calderini, Leandro Caselli, Raimondo D'Aronco, Giulio De Angelis, Donghi, Giuseppe Faini, Giacomo Franco, Costantino Gilodi, G.B. Giovenale, Gaetano Koch, Giuseppe Locarni, Sebastiano Locati, Carlo Maciachini, Luigi Morelli, Gaetano Moretti, Attilio Muggia & Tito Azzolini, Enrico Petiti, Pio Piacentini, Camillo Pistrucci, Giovanni Riggi, Giacomo Roster, Angelo Savoldi, Giuseppe Sommaruga, Antonio Tagliaferri, and Francesco Tamburini.

The featured buildings and designs are situated in locations throughout Italy, including Torino, Genova, Bologna, Firenze, Milano, Padova, Venezia, Roma, and Carrara. There are designs for banks, churches, palazzi and villas, schools, theaters, government buildings, homes, hotels, a military hospital, and the Tempio israelitico di Vercelli. The plates include floor plans, elevations, details, and photographs.

A spectacular and extremely scarce set; as of April 2026, OCLC does not locate a single copy of this title outside of Europe.

Book ID: 53676

Price: $12,500.00