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Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare representative view of the 1883 - wine book.
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  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare representative view of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare feature view of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare representative view of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare example from the work of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare photograph of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare highlight from the volume of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare representative view of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare feature view of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare representative view of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare example from the work of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare photograph of the 1883 - wine book.
  • Catalogo Generale Descrittivo by Ditta Farina, a rare highlight from the volume of the 1883 - wine book.
Catalogo Generale Descrittivo

Phylloxera-free, richly printed, and packed with grape lore in disguise.

Ditta Farina

Catalogo Generale Descrittivo
Della Ditta Farina & C. Viticoltori In Castellanza - Prezzo Corrente - Coltura Speciale Di Viti Europee Ed Americane Per Uve Mangereccie (Sic) E Per Vino. Fruttiferi Diversi Ed Asparagi

1883, Busto Arsizio, Tipografia E Litografia Pisoni & C.

$80 USD

Overview

The Farina company of Milan offered European and American vine varieties for planting, along with a wide selection of fruit trees, shrubs, and vegetables. The catalog is elegantly paginated and exceptionally rare, containing detailed descriptions of numerous precious and sought-after grape varieties, both table and wine. It also includes a long list of fruit trees and shrubs, as well as a dedicated page featuring thirteen different varieties of asparagus.

Inside the book

The catalog opens with a declaration by the “Government Delegate on Phylloxera,” certifying that Farina’s vines showed no signs of infestation. This is followed by purchase rules and notes on planting times, shipping, and payment (upon receipt). The first section presents table grapes, sold individually or in groups of ten, where it is noteworthy that Syrah is included. Next come the wine grapes, offered at proportionally lower prices and sold by the thousand. It remains an open question whether the lower pricing of certain varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, reflects higher demand compared to others.
The catalog then introduces rootstocks, described according to their vigor and the qualities they impart to wine. In a subsequent section, pears are given the greatest emphasis among fruit trees, while asparagus is offered in an unusually broad range of varieties.

Why La Fenice chose it

This is more than a plant catalog: it’s a beautifully printed, Phylloxera-certified snapshot of 19th-century viticulture. A rare case where a sales list reads like a field manual for future winemakers.
Condition Report

Pp. 51. Incomplete.

Original light-blue paper binding (faded); title and notes printed in red and black within a typographic border in the same colors. Title page likewise framed, with text in red and black. The entire text is enclosed within a decorative red border. Some foxing, with notable browning on a few leaves (pp. 11, 36, 37, 40). Binding loose, pp. 27-28 missing and 29-30 detached. A decent copy.

Dimensions (inches): 9.5 x 7 x 0.5
About the author

Ditta Farina was a 19th-century viticultural firm in Castellanza near Milan

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