Michele Torcia (1736-1808) Calabrian publicist, who distinguished himself for his cultural activity. In 1763, he was appointed legation secretary in the Netherlands, later in London and Paris. Only in 1770 did he return to Naples where, thanks to his friendship with Bernardo Tanucci, he was put in charge of the library of the Casa del SS. Salvatore, i.e., the new university. Following the Calabrian-Messina earthquake of 1783, he emerged as one of the key figures in the extensive literary and scientific work focused on the event.

The main themes on which Torcia concentrated his curiosity in the 1770s and until the mid-1780s were the search for the economic, political and social model best suited to the development of the Southern Kingdom, together with the need to create a strong national identity, an operation attempted by grafting the most advanced culture of the Enlightenment onto the trunk of the most 'dissident' Italian tradition, that of Niccolò Machiavelli, Giordano Bruno, Tommaso Campanella and Pietro Giannone.

Possessor inscriptions in ink on the front endpaper ('N. J.' )and flyleaf (Maria von Bourbon).

In later dark green full-leather binding, ornately gilt spine with title inscription on dark red leather. Edges painted red. Leaves clean and in good condition, apart from one ink stain on the 37-38p. Occasional, barely visible foxing.