Beschreibung:

Metallurgy.- Biringuccio (Vannoccio) De la Pirotechnia. Libri X. Dove ampiamente si tratta non solo de ogni sorte & diversita de Miniere, ma anchora quanto si ricerca intorno a la prattica di quelle cosi di quel che si appartiene a l'arte de la fusione over gitto de metalli, collation: [floral symbol]8 A-X8, title within woodcut historiated border incorporating an emblem of Venice and printer's device, woodcut illustrations and historiated initials, occasional early ink marginalia, title repaired lower corners verso (seemingly avoiding any text), 3rd f. working loose, water-stained, occasional spotting, new endpapers, 17th century panelled calf, rebacked, preserving majority of original backstrip, corners worn, crackled and rubbed, small 4to (209 x 145mm.), [Venice], [Venturino Rossinello for Curtio Navo and brothers], 1540. ⁂ First edition of the earliest book on metallurgy, with sections on the smelting of metals, metal-casting, type-founding, fireworks and gunpowder. Hoover calls it 'The first comprehensive book on the fire-using arts and one of the classics in the history of science and technology.' and Duveen points out that 'Biringuccio should be credited with the first description of silver liquation, and...was the first to mention cobalt blue and manganese.', praises the 'very fine woodcuts' and highlights 'interesting chapters on alchemy'. Of note to bibliophiles is an early account of typefounding, giving the composition of the metal to be used, and describing the matrix. Literature: Adams B2080; Duveen p.79; Philip B110.1; Mortimer Italian 66; Hoover 129; Partington II, 32-37; Wellcome I, 873; Cockle, Military Books 931.