Each title within an elaborate woodcut pictorial border, two full-page engravings, & numerous woodcuts & maps in the text, woodcut initials and head- & tailpieces. First title printed in red & black. 6 p.l., 449, [15] pp.; 4 p.l., 205, [6] pp. Two vols. in one. Folio, cont. vellum over boards (binding a little soiled, light browning throughout as is always the case). Dresden: “durchaus auff Schreibpappir gedruckt,” 1589-90.

First edition, and a fine copy, of this early mining book, splendidly printed on special paper (“Schreibpappir”). “This work is of great importance in connexion with the early history of mining in Saxony.”–Zeitlinger, 2nd Supp., 13976. Albinus’s book also... More

[Japan]: ca. 1898-1912.

Copper mining at Ashio in Tochigi Prefecture began about 1600 and production continued until 1973; in the late 19th century, it produced 39 percent of Japan’s copper output. At the end of that century, it was decided to build a railway connecting the mine to major rail lines to facilitate transportation of the outbound copper ore and inbound supplies (horses had carried or pulled everything before). The engineering problems were considerable: the line runs along the Watarase River through a deep valley subject to frequent flooding. The railway was finished in 1911-12.

The collection contains a series of letters containing reports on design and construction, printed documents regarding the stock company formed to finance the building of the railway (“Ashio Tetsudo Kabushikigaisha”), reports from engineers regarding preparations, further reports regarding expected capacity needs for the railroad line, six photographs of the construction, and a very fine and large (1820 x 760 mm.) manuscript diagram on four joined sheets of tissue paper showing the route through the valley and elevations. This large diagram has been heightened in color (green, blue, red, and brown). More

Woodcut device on title & numerous woodcuts in the text. 345, [7] leaves. Small 8vo, cont. vellum (some foxing, dampstain in fore-edge margin of first & last leaves). Venice: P.G. Giglio, 1559.

Fourth edition of the first systematic book on mining and metallurgy. Biringuccio (1480-1539?), after travelling throughout Italy and Germany inspecting metallurgical operations and running an iron mine and forge at Boccheggiano, was appointed director of the mint at Siena. He later cast cannon and built fortifications for the Este and Farnese families. At the time of his death he was head of the papal foundry and director of papal munitions at Rome. More

Large engraved vignette on title. Title in red & black. 8 p.l., 626, [69] pp. Folio, cont. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, arms on covers effaced. Lyon: J. & P. Prost, 1636.

First edition, Schuh’s issue B (no stated priority) with the dedication to Charles de Neufville. “Very scarce. Compendium of all the author ever discovered or read about the subject of mineralogy. It was published posthumously from notes he left by his Order at Lyon six years after his death. Printed in a double column format in a relatively small type-size, the work is a vast storehouse of all things mineralogical, including new ideas... More

[Styria; ca. 1610-20].

An important document for the early history of iron ore mining, refining, and trading in the Erzberg region of Styria, the most important ore mining area of Central Europe. These activities have continued from Roman times and were especially important in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.

This illustrated manuscript is a directory of the devices of all the iron mills likely active in the Sankt Gallen area in the early 17th century. These devices comprise a maker’s mark — usually a geometrically shaped symbol but sometimes in the shape of an object such as an imperial... More

Oblong thick 8vo, orig. padded silk cloth binding. [Japan]: 1898.

A rare collection of 32 albumen photographs taken by Toshimo Mitsumura (1877-1955), the famous commercial photographer and printing entrepreneur; one of the greatest industrialists of the Meiji period, he is also highly esteemed today as a photographer. These photographs represent some of his earliest efforts. Mitsumura’s photographs have always been highly regarded and are held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

A native of Kobe, Mitsumura purchased his first camera at the age of 14 and quickly became... More

Finely engraved frontis. port., two engraved plates, & two engravings in the text. Title within ruled borders. 7 p.l., 108, [7] pp. Small folio, cont. blind-ruled calf (neat repairs to ends of spine, faint dampstaining towards end), spine ruled in gilt, red morocco label on spine. London: Printed by H.L. & R.B. for T. Basset, 1670.

First edition and a fine and large copy of the standard 17th-century English work on mining, valuable for giving an account of the state of mining in England during the period. The glossary at the end is the first attempt in English at a dictionary of mining... More

Finely engraved allegorical frontis. incorporating a port. of Louis Auguste de Bourbon, the dedicatee, 179 engraved plates (many folding), & six folding engraved tables. Engraved arms on titles & several engraved headpieces. 10 p.l., 348 pp.; 3 p.l., 386 pp. Two vols. Large 4to, cont. fine red sheep, gilt fillet round sides, spines gilt, contrasting vellum lettering pieces on spines, a.e.g. Paris: J. Anisson, 1697.

First edition of the classic French work of the period on artillery, which served several generations of artillery officers, including the young Napoleon. This richly illustrated work went through several later French editions (1702, 1741, 1745) and was translated... More

Folding engraved map (520 x 595 mm.) in fifteen sections, finely handcolored, backed with linen as issued (two sections also backed with marbled board as issued), preserved in the orig. marbled card slip-case (a little worn), orig. yellow printed paper label on upper cover. London: Published by J. Cary, March 1st 1824.

First edition of William Smith’s geological map of Durham, one in a series of county maps produced by Smith, each separately issued, which were the first detailed geological maps of specific areas. Smith’s individual maps are extremely rare on the market.

Smith produced the first geological map of England and Wales in 1815, which contained “an amazing amount of correct detail” (D.S.B.) and was the basis for all the geological maps that followed. In 1819 he began the publication of a geological atlas of England and Wales. Published in parts over five years, it remained unfinished, containing twenty-one maps of various English counties. More