Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino, MS Varia 85

Codex on the Flight of Birds Facsimile Edition

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The Codex on the Flight of Birds has been studied over the course of the centuries and it is almost certain that, as a result of the first published (incomplete) edition of the work in 1893, Otto Lilienthal, the first man to fly, and the Wright Brothers were aware of Leonardo's theories.

Compiled between 1505 and 1506, the codex analyses bird flight based on the studies made by Leonardo upon his return to Florence relating to gravity and the science of weights as part of a project for the 'flying machine', initially conceived as a device with flapping wings moved by human muscles, and, subsequently, as a glider using the air currents. During this period, Leonardo's work is characterised by an emphasis on observation related to the concept of natural phenomena as dynamic, complex processes that tie into his studies on wind, motion and anatomy.

In addition to his studies on flight, the manuscript contains notes on mechanics and botany, architectural projects and hydraulic studies for the fountain spurts and water games in the gardens at the country villa of Charles d’Amboise.

We have 4 facsimiles of the manuscript "Codex on the Flight of Birds":

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Manuscript book description compiled by the publisher.
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#1 Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli (English and French Edition)

Florence: Giunti Editore, 1976

+ 6

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 1
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 1

+ 6

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 2
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 2

+ 6

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 3
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 3

+ 6

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino, Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli  facsimile edition. Commentary (English, French) by Giunti Editore.
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli facsimile edition. Commentary (English, French) by Giunti Editore.

+ 6

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 5
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino − Photo 5

+ 6

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino, Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli  facsimile edition. Commentary (English, French) by Giunti Editore.
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli facsimile edition. Commentary (English, French) by Giunti Editore.

+ 6

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino, Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli  facsimile edition. Commentary (English, French) by Giunti Editore.
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli facsimile edition. Commentary (English, French) by Giunti Editore.
  • Commentary (English, French) by Marinoni, Augusto
  • Full-size color reproduction of the entire original document, Codex on the Flight of Birds: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

Leather-covered box (size 25 x 36 cm) with gold tooling, containing the facsimile and a 90 page volume of text printed on handmade paper and bound in Fabriano paper. The facsimile is accompanied by a text volume in English and French by Augusto Marinoni containing an introduction, diplomatic and critical transcriptions, and indexes.

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#2 Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli (Italian Edition)

Florence: Giunti Editore, 1976

+ 1

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino, Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli facsimile edition. Commentary (Italian) by Giunti Editore.
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli facsimile edition. Commentary (Italian) by Giunti Editore.

+ 1

Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli, Turin, Biblioteca Reale di Torino, Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli facsimile edition. Commentary (Italian) by Giunti Editore.
Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli facsimile edition. Commentary (Italian) by Giunti Editore.
  • Commentary (Italian) by Marinoni, Augusto
  • Full-size color reproduction of the entire original document, Codex on the Flight of Birds: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

Leather-covered box (size 25 x 36 cm) with gold tooling, containing the facsimile and a 90 page volume of text printed on handmade paper and bound in Fabriano paper. The facsimile is accompanied by a text volume in Italian by Augusto Marinoni containing an introduction, diplomatic and critical transcriptions, and indexes.

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#3 Códice sobre el Vuelo de los Pájaros

Valencia: Patrimonio Ediciones, 2019

  • Commentary (Spanish, Catalan) by Ruiz, Elisa
  • Limited Edition: 500 copies
  • Full-size color reproduction of the entire original document, Codex on the Flight of Birds: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

This facsimile edition belongs to the Collección Leonardo Universal and comes in a leather case with a gold dry impression.

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#4 Codice del Volo degli Uccelli

Ottaviano: Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci, 2013

  • Commentary (Italian)
  • Limited Edition: 499 copies
  • This is a partial facsimile of the original document, Codex on the Flight of Birds: the facsimile might represent only a part, or doesn't attempt to replicate the format, or doesn't imitate the look-and-feel of the original document.

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