Beschreibung:

Mining & metalurgy.- Agricola (Georgius) De re metallica Libri XII, collation: α6 a-g6 h-i6+1 k-z A-Z Aa-Bb6, title with woodcut printer's device, 2 folding woodcut plates, numerous magnificent woodcut illustrations, some full-page, woodcut historiated initials, final f. with colophon recto and woodcut printer's device recto, α6 blank, Basel, Hieronymus Froben and Nicolaus Episcopius, March, 1561 bound with Agricola (Georgius) De ortu & causis subterraneorum Lib. V - De natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra Lib. IIII - De natura fossilium Lib. X - De veteribus & novis metallis..., collation: a-g6 h4 i-z6 A-P6 Q8 R6 S4 T-X6 Y8, woodcut printer's device to title and verso of final f., woodcut historiated initials, g6 and M6 blank, early ink marginalia, Basel, Hieronymus Froben and Nicolaus Episcopius, September, 1546, together 2 works in 1 vol., occasional staining or spotting, 17th century mottled calf, gilt spine in compartments, upper joint split, but holding firm, lower compartment of spine detaching, corners worn, rubbed, folio (307 x 201mm.) ⁂ The second edition in Latin of the 'first systematic treatise on mining and metallurgy and one of the first technological books of modern times' (PMM), together with the first edition of the 'first handbook of modern systematic Minerology' (Grolier / Horblit). Literature: I. Adams A350; Ferguson I, p.9; Wellcome I, 67; cf. Duveen pp.4-5; PMM 79 (first edition). II. Adams A345; Ferguson I, p.9; Grolier/Horblit 2a; Hoover 14; Wellcome I, 62.