LEOPARDI GIACOMO: (1798-1837) Italian poet and philosopher. An extremely rare A.L.S., Giacomo, one page, 4to, Bologna, 20th February 1826, to his father (‘Carrissimo Sig. Padre’), in Italian. Leopardi thanks his father for a gift of figs which ‘sono qui applauditissimi e graditissimi, e quantunque in casa io non fossi solito di mangiar de'fichi, adesso, non so come, trovo che sono pure una cosa di un sapore eccellente’ (Translation: ‘are highly applauded and very welcome here, and although I wasn’t used to eating figs at home, now, I don’t know how, I find that they are also something with an excellent flavour’) and adding that he has been supplied with sufficient enough to be able to share them, remarking that very little (and only bad) cheese is made around Bologna, and venturing the possibilities of selling their own cheese and produce in the area, ‘Veramente non si puo scusare l'indolenza della nostra provincia nel mettere a profitto i tanti generi squisiti che essa possiede, e che eccedono il consumo dell'interno: giacche i formaggi non sono il solo capo che manca in altre parti d'Italia, e che sarebbe ben accolto, ma noi abbiamo ancora molti e molti altri capi che da noi non si stimano e non si trovano a vendere perche soprabbondano, e altrove sarebbero ricercatissimi’ (Translation: ‘Truly, we cannot excuse the indolence of our province in making the most of the many exquisite products that it possesses, and which exceed internal consumption: since cheese are not the only item that is lacking in other parts of Italy, and which would be well received, but we still have man, many other items that are not esteemed here and cannot be found for sale because they are overabundant, and elsewhere they would be highly sought after’), further suggesting wine as another product for consideration, ‘E i nostri vini. che noi mandiamo solamente a Roma e in piccola quantita, mentre ne abbiamo tanta abbondanza, non si venderebbero qui nel Bolognese a preferenza di questi vini .......pessimi della provincia, tutti ingrati al gusto, e scomunicati generalmente da tutti i medici?’ (Translation: ‘And our wines, which we only send to Rome and in small quantities. While we have such an abundance of them, would they not be sold here in the Bolognese area in preference to these…..terrible wines from the province, all unpleasant to the taste, and generally excommunicated by all doctors?’) and commenting on the financial advantages and that landowners would have the opportunity to sell their goods at convenient prices. Leopardi concludes by referring to the weather he is experiencing, ‘Qui continuano le giornate temperate, che mi han fatto tornare in vita da una vera morte, perche le pene che ho provate in quest'inverno non sono descrivibili’ (Translation: ‘Here the temperate days continue, which brought me back to life from a true death, because the pain I have felt this winter cannot be described’) and sends tender greetings to his mother and other family members, as well as Dr. Masi and the surgeon Prosperi. With address panel to the verso, bearing the remnants of a papered seal. Autograph letters of Leopardi are extremely rare as a result of his death at the untimely age of 38 during the cholera epidemic of 1837. Some light age wear and very minor staining and a small area of paper loss to the lower left corner. About VGCount Monaldo Leopardi (1776-1847) Italian philosopher, nobleman, politician and writer, one of the main Italian intellectuals of the counter-revolution. Father of Giacomo Leopardi. The relationship between Monaldo Leopardi and his son was profound and bound by reciprocal affection, as witnessed in the present letter (Giacomo closes ‘Mi ami, mi benedica e mi creda sempre suo affettuosissimo figlio’ Translation: ‘Love me, bless me and always believe me to be your most affectionate son’) however the two also had completely opposed temperaments with an entirely different conception of life.
