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

8vo (235 x 168 mm.), orig. blue semi-stiff wrappers, modern stitching. [Japan]: 1853-54.

Silver was mined at the Ikuno Ginzan (Ikuno Silver Mine) from the 9th century until 1973 and was an important source of income for the central government. Lead, copper, zinc, and gold were extracted along with silver. There were a number entrances to the mine, and more than 20,000 local residents were in some way involved in the mining industry.

In the 19th century, the mines were running deficits as they were not producing enough silver. This is a fascinating official record maintained by Chudayu (or Chiwaki) Shiraishi (1817-87), of the... More

3 p.l. (lacking the first leaf, a blank; title a little soiled), 143, 152-66 pp. Small 4to, cont. English limp vellum. London: N. Okes for N. Bourne, 1623.

First edition of one of the great early English accounts of the exploration of the interior of Africa and the first to be published separately (others appear in collections); it is a classic account of the search for gold.

Ghana, the earliest known empire of the western Sudan, first entered the historical consciousness of North Africa near the end of the eighth century but probably originated long before. Famous to North Africans as the... More

Finely engraved title-page, one folding engraved map, & numerous large & fine engraved head- & tail-pieces. xx, 464, [34] pp. Folio, cont. marbled sheep (lower cover a little abraded), spine richly & brightly gilt, orange morocco lettering piece on spine. Vienna: M. A. Schmidt, 1780.

First edition, and a really fine copy, of this beautifully decorated and attractive book. This work contains a detailed account and history, district by district, of the mines of Bohemia, an area of great mineral wealth including coal, lignite, iron, and the raw materials for porcelain. Peithner provides much information on the earlier and contemporary mineralogical and geological histories of the area... More

[Japan: 1816 or after].

A fine, complete, and uncommonly well-illustrated set of scrolls concerning the famous gold, silver, and copper mine on Sado Island, illustrating all the steps from mining to refining to minting, along with the administrative and commercial activities associated with the mines. We have had several sets of “Sado Island Scrolls” and this is by far the finest in terms of the quality of the illustration, completeness, and richness of detail. The skilled artist of these scrolls has provided an enormous amount of valuable factual content by labeling each depicted person’s role in the production of gold, silver... More

9 p.l., 62 pp. Small 4to, 18th-cent. blue limp boards (margins of title a little frayed, occasional faint dampstaining), uncut. Rudolstadt: printed by C. Fleischer for B. Fuhrmann in Osterode & Nordhausen, 1678.

Second, greatly enlarged, edition (1st ed.: 1670) of this very rare historical account of the mining activities in the Duchy of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and the adjoining Harz mountains. These areas were rich in minerals — chiefly silver, coal, iron, lead, copper, sulphur, alum, etc. — and had been mined for many centuries. The author has furnished much statistical information at the end and accounts of remarkable events.

Very good copy. More