Beschreibung:

BARBA, Alvaro Alonso (1569-c.1640). Arte de los metales, en que se enseña el verdadero beneficio de los de oro y plata por açogue: el modo de fundirlos todos, y como se han de refinar y apartar unos de otros . Madrid: Imprenta del Reyno, 1640. The earliest obtainable edition of the 'first significant treatise on metals to be written in Spanish, and the only 17th-century work on its subject that was largely original. [Barba] also provided an excellent description of his newly-invented process of treating silver ores by amalgamation, a process largely responsible for the fabulous riches that the Spaniards were able to export.' (Norman 115, first English edition). The sale of this work was prohibited by the Inquisition, which may account for its scarcity. The first edition of 1639 would appear to be unobtainable – we can only trace 3 copies: National Art Library, V, London; Red de Bibliotecas del Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico; and Biblioteca Nacional de Mexico. The present edition, although accounted for by approximately 20 libraries worldwide, is extremely rare on the market. ABPC/RBH records only 3 selling at auction (Honeyman copy, twice, at Sotheby's, 30 Oct 1978, lot 196, resold Christie's New York, 11 Nov 1994, lot 11; and the Freilich copy, Sotheby's New York 10 Jan 2001, lot 37); another, restored and with text loss to 7 leaves, failed to sell in Germany in 2004-2005. DSB I, 448; Goldsmiths'-Kress 701; Palau 23622 ('Primera edición muy rara'); Sabin 3253. Quarto (193 x 130mm). Woodcuts in text depicting mining tools, smelters, etc. (lacking A1, but this replaced by 2 leaves of 19th-century manuscript, leaves A8, B1 and M5 loose, many leaves with short tears, a few more extensive, but generally without loss, excepting N1 which has loss to a number of lines, the last 2 leaves chipped at lower corner and repaired with substitute 19th-century manuscript text, browning and staining throughout). Contemporary calf (worn, ties lacking). Provenance : illegible 18th-century ownership inscription on verso of title).