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AGRICOLA, Georgius (1494-1555). De re metallica libri XII. --De animantibus subterraneis liber. Basel: Hieronymus Froben and Nicolaus Bischoff, March 1556.
2° (322 x 216mm). Roman, greek and gothic types. Woodcut title device, repeated on Bb6v, 2 woodcut plates, numerous woodcut illustrations and diagrams, white-on-black initials. Retaining blank \Ka\k6. (The first plate shaved at fore-edge just into image, the second trimmed at head, first gathering slightly loose, wormhole to title slightly affecting privilege on verso, title lightly soiled and with crease extending into following leaves, occasional light spotting and marking.) 19th-century half sheep over marbled boards, morocco lettering-piece, marbled edges (extremities lightly rubbed and scuffed, corners bumped). Provenance: John Conway (early ink inscription on title) -- Thomas Davies (ink inscription dated 1768 on title) -- Fleming (ink inscription dated 1768 on title) -- Buddle Atkinson (19th-century bookplate) -- Mining Institute of Scotland (ink stamps on front endpaper, title and first plate).
FIRST EDITION. 'THE FIRST SYSTEMATIC TREATISE ON MINING AND METALLURGY AND ONE OF THE FIRST TECHNOLOGICAL BOOKS OF MODERN TIMES' (PMM), published four months after the author's death. The last of a flow of important works by Agricola, De re metallica combines a profound technical and financial knowledge of mining with an underlying interest in the health and daily routine of mine workers. Written over a 20-year period between 1530 and 1550, the twelve books have an earlier treatise on subterranean zoology, De animantibus subterraneis (first published Basel: 1549), appended, and 'embrace everything connected with the mining industry and metallurgical processes, including administration, prospecting, the duties of officials and companies, and the manufacture of glass, sulphur and alum' (PMM). The fine series of almost 300 woodcuts, some signed with the monogram 'RMD', were used for 101 years in seven editions, and are generally attributed to Hans Rudolf Manuel Deutsch (fl.1525-1572) or, less commonly, Blasius Weffring. Adams A-349; Brunet I, 113; Dibner Heralds 88; Duveen pp.4-5; Grolier Science 2b; Hoover 17; Norman 20; PMM 79.
2° (322 x 216mm). Roman, greek and gothic types. Woodcut title device, repeated on Bb6v, 2 woodcut plates, numerous woodcut illustrations and diagrams, white-on-black initials. Retaining blank \Ka\k6. (The first plate shaved at fore-edge just into image, the second trimmed at head, first gathering slightly loose, wormhole to title slightly affecting privilege on verso, title lightly soiled and with crease extending into following leaves, occasional light spotting and marking.) 19th-century half sheep over marbled boards, morocco lettering-piece, marbled edges (extremities lightly rubbed and scuffed, corners bumped). Provenance: John Conway (early ink inscription on title) -- Thomas Davies (ink inscription dated 1768 on title) -- Fleming (ink inscription dated 1768 on title) -- Buddle Atkinson (19th-century bookplate) -- Mining Institute of Scotland (ink stamps on front endpaper, title and first plate).
FIRST EDITION. 'THE FIRST SYSTEMATIC TREATISE ON MINING AND METALLURGY AND ONE OF THE FIRST TECHNOLOGICAL BOOKS OF MODERN TIMES' (PMM), published four months after the author's death. The last of a flow of important works by Agricola, De re metallica combines a profound technical and financial knowledge of mining with an underlying interest in the health and daily routine of mine workers. Written over a 20-year period between 1530 and 1550, the twelve books have an earlier treatise on subterranean zoology, De animantibus subterraneis (first published Basel: 1549), appended, and 'embrace everything connected with the mining industry and metallurgical processes, including administration, prospecting, the duties of officials and companies, and the manufacture of glass, sulphur and alum' (PMM). The fine series of almost 300 woodcuts, some signed with the monogram 'RMD', were used for 101 years in seven editions, and are generally attributed to Hans Rudolf Manuel Deutsch (fl.1525-1572) or, less commonly, Blasius Weffring. Adams A-349; Brunet I, 113; Dibner Heralds 88; Duveen pp.4-5; Grolier Science 2b; Hoover 17; Norman 20; PMM 79.
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