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

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... 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

vi, 122 pp. 8vo, cont. marbled half-sheep & marbled boards, flat spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Quedlinburg: F.J. Ernst, 1816.

First edition of a most uncommon book: WorldCat lists only one copy in North America. Gleim was the nephew of the Enlightenment poet Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim (1719-1803). This is an account of some of the most remarkable geological features of the Harz Mountains in northern Germany, one of the mining centers of that country for more than 1000 years. Gleim describes his ascent of the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz mountain range. This mountain has always... 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

Woodcut printer’s device on title. 19 leaves, one blank leaf. Small folio, later 18th-century half-sheep & speckled boards, spine gilt. Eisleben: A. Koch, 1674.

A most interesting volume containing a printed edition of mining laws of 1674 and three manuscript copies of mining laws of the 16th century, assembled by and bound for August Ferdinand, Graf von Veltheim (1741-1801). He was appointed in 1790 by Empress Catherine of Russia as general inspector of mines and saltworks in the western regions of the Russian empire. Geology and mining were favorite subjects and at his home in Harbke, he formed an important library along... More

Four fine double-page woodcuts. 43 folding leaves. 8vo, orig. wrappers (wrappers a little rubbed & tired, minor & mostly marginal worming at front & back), part of the orig. block-printed title label on upper cover, new stitching. [Ikuno]: 1849.

First edition of this most uncommon and interesting book on the Ikuno silver mine in Hyogo Prefecture. Silver was mined there from the 16th century until the late 20th century and was an important source of income for the central government.

The town of Ikuno greatly increased in size due to the mining activities and a school for the children of samurai and government officials was... 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

Several small woodcuts in the text. 12 p.l., 128 pp. 8vo, 19th-cent. blue boards, uncut. Stockholm: L. Salvius, 1761.

First edition and very rare. Polhem (1661-1751), the father of Swedish technology, was a pioneer in the mass production of replaceable machine parts, which he made with great precision and accuracy. He made other important contributions to applied mechanics, mining engineering, the construction of canals and docks, building materials and the construction of buildings, and the manufacturing of textiles. Polhem also established a mechanical laboratory for the development and construction of machines, technical instruments, astronomical clocks, etc.

This title of this posthumously published work, edited by his son Gabriel, can be translated as “Patriotic Testament, or Information on Iron, Steel, Brass, Tin and Lead for Those who want to start Industries in these Fields. Including a list of all his Mechanical Inventions,” is the best account by Polhem of his numerous achievements and provides his “alphabet” of machines which demonstrated the basic elements of mechanics. 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