(London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1876).

FIRST EDITION. An account of recent archaeological investigations and discoveries in Italy, with a long section on its ancient and modern languages. Burton had hands-on experience digging for Etruscan artifacts near Bologna on the land of Count Gozzadini. He was also friendly with several professors from the University of Bologna-- Calori, Fabretti, and Capellini, and included their findings in this work. Essentially a guidebook for the region, it covers the new and old sections of the city, a comprehensive look at the rich archaeological collections in its museums, a history of Estruscan excavations from the area, and an analysis of the ancient language. Burton found the Bologna region a vast repository of Estruscan antiquities.
The book contains a significant number of important illustrations and plans, including examples of the written language. Burton attempted to decipher the mystery of its symbols, but failed to do so.
Burton’s “Etruscan Bologna” is a serious, scholarly archaeological survey without his usual cynical wit. It was badly received in England, most reviewers found the book lifeless or superficial. The Gazette however championed Burton, “But it is indeed a novelty to see this hard student, this desperately learned man, charged with shallowness, with inaccuracy and hasty incompleteness...It will be amusing to follow the pygmies in their task of assailing the learned modern Gulliver.”. Item #12351

First Edition. Folding table at the front and 27 black & white illustrations and plans in text. 8vo, publisher's original blue cloth with blocking to the upper cover and spine in black and with gilt pictorial design to the front cover and gilt lettering to the spine. 262; appendix, index 275 pp. A very good copy, with light aging to the binding, the text-block and illustrations all fine, a tight and strong copy.