The Harz Mountains
The Natural History of Hartz-Forest, in His Majesty King George’s German Dominions. Being a succinct Account of The Caverns, Lakes, Springs, Rivers, Mountains, Rocks, Quarries, Fossiles, Castles, Gardens, the famous Pagan Idol Pustrich or Spit-Fire, Dwarf-Holes, Pits, moving Islands, Whirlpools, Mines, several Engines belonging to them; Ores, the manner of refining them; Smelting-Houses; several sorts of Ovens, Hammer-Mills, Vitriol and Glass-Houses, &c. in the said Forest: With several useful and entertaining Physical Observations.
8 p.l., 164, [12] pp. 8vo, 19th-cent. red pebbled morocco (minor foxing), a.e.g. London: W. Pearson for T. Osborne, 1730.
First edition in English of Behrens’ Hercynia Curiosa (1703). “Very scarce. A personal narrative of an excursion through northern Germany. The book is interesting for its account of the geology and fossils of the region, and also the author took a special interest in the mineral wealth of the region. Therefore, this work is principally a description of the various mines, quarries, and caves he chanced to visit. Of great value for reporting the state of the mining and metallurgy of the time.”–Schuh, Mineralogy & Crystallography: A Biobibliography, 1469 to 1920, 463.
Behrens (1662-1712), was a physician in Nordhausen. The translator was John Andree (1697/98-1785), was physician at the London Hospital (later Royal London Hospital).
Fine copy.
Price: $2,500.00
Item ID: 6243
