pdf - Roger Gaskell Rare Books

natural philosophy among educated laymen, and nowhere more so than in
England’ (Middleton p. 337).
W. E. Knowles Middleton, The Experimenters, a Study of the Accademia del Cimento
(1971). The Wrst edition is Dibner Heralds of Science 82.
2
AGRICOLA, Georg (1494–1555)
De re metallica libri XII. Quibus oYcia, instrumenta, machinae, ac
omnia denique ad metallicam spectantia... Eiusdem De animantibus
subterraneis liber, ab autore recognitus. Cum indicibus diversis,
quicquid in opere tractatum est, pulchrè demonstrantibus.
Basle: sumtibus itemque typis chalcographicis Ludovici Regis, 1621.
Folio: a6 (–a6, blank), a–z6 A–2A6 (–2A5,6, blanks), 285 of 288 leaves,
pp. [10] 538 (i.e. 502, last two pages misnumbered) [58]. Woodcut on
title, woodcut initials and decorations and numerous woodcuts in the
text.
2 woodcut plates (bound as foldouts at pp. 96 and 100).
316 x 200mm. Titlepage soiled and mounted; moderate foxing and
browning throughout and some light marginal waterstains.
Binding: Recent panelled calf, a little rubbed. Bound for Dr Pagel.
Provenance: Walter Pagel’s signature, undated, on pastedown.
Third edition (Wrst edition 1556, second 1561). VD17 23:297726T;
Hoover 19; Ward and Carozzi 33; Wellcome 69.
De re metallica (1556) was ‘the Wrst systematic treatise on mining and metallurgy
and one of the Wrst technological books of modern times... The De Re Metallica
embraces everything connected with the mining industry and metallurgical
processes, including administration, prospecting, the duties of oYcials and
companies and the manufacture of glass, sulphur and alum.... Some of the
most important sections are those on mechanical engineering and the use
of water­power, hauling, pumps, ventilation, blowing of furnaces, transport
of ores, etc., showing a very elaborate technique.’ (Printing and the Mind of
Man).
Agricola’s work is justly famous for the magniWcent series of woodcuts of
mining operations and tools, among the best technical illustrations of the
Renaissance. The Wrst edition of De Re Metallica was published shortly after
Agricola’s death and the later editions are all close reprints of the Wrst, the same
woodblocks being used in seven editions up to 1657. Most were apparently
designed by Blasius WeVring whom Agricola had met at Joachimsthal in 1550
(Helmut M. Wilsdorf in DSB who counts 292 woodcuts). Seven of the blocks
are signed with the monogram ‘RMD’ for Rudolf Hans Manuel Deutsch
(1525–1571). It is not clear if either WeVring or Deutsch cut the blocks.
As in the Wrst edition, Agricola’s unillustrated treatise on animals, De
Animantibus Subterraneis, Wrst published in 1549, is appended.
The Wrst edition is Dibner, Heralds of Science 88; Horblit, One Hundred Books
Famous in Science 2b; Printing and the Mind of Man 79; Sparrow, Milestones of
Science 4; Parkinson, Breakthroughs p. 44.