Jon has so many great links compiled on the figs4fun.com Links page.  This is one of the most interesting links, in my opinion.  It takes you to a webpage that contains the illustrations and descriptions that Giorgio Gallesio made of fig varieties that he was familiar with in Italy in 1817.  Gallesio also has illustrations and descriptions of other fruit besides figs.  The illustrations are beautiful.  The descriptions are lengthy and informative, and play an important role in the history of fig literature, as both Eisen and Condit referenced Gallesio and regarded him as an important source.  You access the full description by pressing the Full Article or Complete Text link on the bottom of the page.  Your web browser should be able to translate the page to English.  I'm only growing one of the varieties that he describes: Barnisotte Black (or Fico Brogiotto Nero as he calls it in Italian).  He also describe Dottato (Kadota? I believe) and Paradiso.  I'm not sure how many of the other varieties that he describes are still in trade.  In his description of Barnisotte Black he makes an interesting point.  He believes that Barnisotte Black is the same fig that Pliny the Elder (back in Roman times) called Ficus Africanus.  I'm not sure how he knows that with certainty, but if he is correct it is a cool link to the past.

Hi Joe,
thank you for bringing this up, i have seen in past but not have read the depth of it.
To me the study from several hundred years ago and to still be able to read today is great.
The descriptions are fascinating in detail along with some history are a treat to read.
The illustrations are wonderful.

There are a lot of great publications, many historical buried in all of those links. Most I have only had time to glance at. Maybe some day I will get to read them cover to cover. Google Books has made a lot of stuff accessible for the first time in generations.