[Rarebooks] FS: 1621 Agricola: DE RE METALLICA with 273 woodcuts, many full page

[Charles Agvent]

AGRICOLA, Georgius. DE RE METALLICA. LIBRI XII. QUIBUS OFFICIA, 
INSTRUMENTA, MACHINAE, AC OMNIA DENIQUE AD METALLICAM SPECTANTIA... 
Basil: Ludovici Regis, 1621. Early edition. Folio (8" x 12-1/2") bound 
in library buckram; irregularly paginated: [10], 502, [58] pages. 
Illustrated with 273 woodcuts, many full and half page. Previously 
published in 1556 and 1561, this edition seems scarcer than either of 
the previous. PRINTING & THE MIND OF MAN 79: "The first systematic 
treatise on mining and metallurgy and one of the first technological 
books of modern times." Herbert Hoover, who first translated this book 
into English, described this title in his autobiography as "the first 
important attempt to assemble systematically in print the 
world-knowledge on mining, metallurgy, and industrial chemistry. It was 
the great textbook of those industries for two centuries and had 
dominated thought and practice all that time. In many mining regions and 
camps, including the Spanish South America, it was chained to the church 
altar and translated by the priest to the miners between religious 
services." The woodcut impressions are strong and dark. As customary 
with this title, there is browning throughout, occasionally heavy. Small 
piece of title page repaired with no loss of text or illustration; ink 
names of David Stuart dated 1771 and Joseph Robertson dated 1830 on 
title page. Library bookplate on front pastedown and small ink number on 
the title page illustration; no other library markings except for 
numbers on the spine. An important and richly illustrated title. Very 
Good in a serviceable binding. 		$8,500.00

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