[Rarebooks] FS: Glassmaking- First Book by Neri -1826 Middle Hill Press

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

TITLE: "Neri’s Art of Glass; Translated by C.M."

Printed at the Middle Hill Pres - Typis Medio-Montanis, F. Crees: 1826.

THE TEXT: "Having regard to the influence of [Neri’s] book on future
writers on the subject, especially upon those who sought to make glass by
Venetian methods in England and elsewhere, it may without doubt be given
the premier place as the most important work that has ever appeared on the
preparation of glass" [1]

We know little of Antonio Neri (1576-1614), except that he was a
Florentine priest and chemist who broke tradition in 1612 by publishing
the first printed book solely devoted to the art of the glassmaker. These
arts were trade secrets, and you didn't fool around with trade secrets.
The Venetians (for instance) guarded their own glassmaking formulas and
techniques so jealously that they had announced a death penalty for any
glassmaker who traveled abroad and shared them. In his "L'Arte Vetraria"
Neri documented and described the formulas for glass derived from his own
long association with the glassworks in Florence and Antwerp, and he also
worked at the Murano glasshouses. Neri began in Florence under the
patronage of Antonio de Medici, to whom he formally dedicates this book in
the usual florid style of the day. Neri later moved to Pisa and Antwerp,
before returning to Florence around 1611. Neri's book was translated into
English (1662), Latin (1668), German (1678), and Spanish (ca.1778). The
book also became the basis for a number of later works.

The present copy represents a new edition of Christopher Merret’s 1662
translation of Neri’s work, the first English translation. The text as
issued here includes letters from Merret to Robert Boyle and the
“Ingenuous Reader”, and a letter from Neri to Don Antonio Medici, dated
January 6, 1611.

THE PRESS: The publisher, Sir Thomas Phillipps, became famous for amassing
the largest collection of books and manuscripts in private hands in
England, an assemblage it took 100 years of auctions to disperse. He set
up his Middle Hill Press to reprint important English works of particular
interest, of which obviously he judged this one such. Although there is no
limitation stated internally, Phillipps bibliographers guess that the
edition was probably limited to 100 copies, of which this probably
represents an unsold and unbound copy in the original blue paper covers.
An uncommon and intriguing edition of this classic and important work.
[Duncan 9299].

Softcover. 8.5”x13”, title page, viii + 33 + 1 pages; a set of loose,
unbound sheets contained in a period dark blue paper folder. A little wear
at the edges, small stab holes in the left margin, else very nice, neat
and clean.

PRICE: $850.00

PHOTOS =>

<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-30858-page1.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-30858-page2.jpg>


[1.] Edward Dillon, "Glass -The Connoisseur's Library". London, 1907.

 - -


JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

Post Office Box 239
Northampton, Massachusetts 01061 USA
telephone (413) 247-5080

Our WEBSITE-
<http://www.joslinhall.com>

Our BLOG-
<http://foggygates.blogspot.com/>

On TWITTER-
<https://twitter.com/joslinhall>

Our EMAIL LIST-
<http://joslinhall.com/mailman/listinfo/jhrbnews_joslinhall.com>

Our CATALOG-
MAY, 2011 -Recent Acquisitions
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_337.html>


 ~ ~ ~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank; We
accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa and Mastercard. Books
may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed; Standard
courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges are $5.00 for
the first book, and $2.00 for each additional book. Shipments outside the
U.S. will be billed at cost. We accept returns if we are notified within
ten days of your receipt of the books-please ask for full instructions and
terms. Massachusetts residents must add 5% state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America we are
committed to upholding high professional standards and making sure your
bookbuying experience is enjoyable.