Fruits Of The Earth

Food & Drink Art, Design & Photography Antiquarian & Collectable

Fruits of the Earth pairs Francesco Corbetta’s concise text with Francesco Bianchini’s lush, full-page illustrations to celebrate fruit in classical art. Issued in 1975, this vintage hardcover picture book feels like a gallery tour on every page, making it a charming gift for cooks, artists, or young adults curious about botanical art.

The 1975 edition arrives with its original dust jacket—lightly scuffed yet bright—and all colour plates intact. An ex libris stamp on the front flyleaf hints at its journey from one careful owner to the next; aside from two dog-eared leaves and gentle corner creases, the pages remain crisp, unmarked, and tightly bound.

Collectors of antiquarian food-and-drink volumes or art-and-culture gift books will appreciate how cleanly Bianchini’s work scans here, free of the foxing or smoke odour so common in mid-70s printings. A lovely shelf piece for anyone drawn to fruit still-life, botanical illustration, or Italian art heritage.