Quattro lettere al Signor A. F. D. de' suoi fedelissimi servitori Mal di Milza e Gran Zoroastro. VERRI, Pietro.

Rare first edition of the author's biting reply to abbot Francesco d'Adda's Riflessioni, a polemic against his earlier satirical almanacs. In these anonymously published four letters, Verri defends his arguments and criticises d'Adda's rhetoric. This work is rare in commerce, with no copies recorded in modern auction records; we have traced 9 copies in institutions, most of which are in Italy. Disguised as astrological pamphlets, Verri's Il gran Zoroastro (1762) and Mal di milza (1764) satirized contemporary Milanese aristocracy, while also addressing popular prejudices and controversial issues such as torture. Offended by their content, D'Adda responded with Riflessioni, in which he denounced Verri's irreverence and what he saw as serious errors. He later replied to Verri's Quattro lettere with an Apologia, defending the arguments he had put forth in Riflessioni, and other similar works. Exasperated by d'Adda's persistent objections, Verri remarked in a 1769 letter to his brother: "Abbot Francesco d'Adda is truly mad in his manners" (Novati & Greppi, p. 76). Einaudi 5886; Melzi II, p. 391; Vismara, p. 16. Francesco Novati & d'Emanuele Greppi, Carteggio di Pietro e di Alessandro Verri dal 1766-1797, 1941. Octavo (162 x 114 mm), pp. viii, 3-95, leaf A1 cancelled as issued. Woodcut initials and headpieces. Contemporary carta rustica, edges untrimmed. Contemporary bibliographical note on front free endpaper. Faint stains to outer leaves, otherwise crisp and clean: a very good copy.