Title within woodcut border & numerous woodcut illus. in the text. 8 p.l., 168 leaves. Small 4to, cont. limp vellum. [Venice: Comin da Trino for C. T. de’ Navò], 1558.

Third edition of the first systematic book on mining and metallurgy; according to Cyril Stanley Smith, the second edition of 1550 and our edition are far superior to the first edition of 1540 for in that earlier edition “the type is worn, poorly aligned, and arranged in a solid mass, unrelieved by paragraphing.”–Smith & Gnudi, The Pirotechnia (1943), pp. xix-xx.

Biringuccio (1480-1539?), after travelling throughout Italy and Germany, inspecting metallurgical operations and running an iron mine... More about Pirotechnia. Li Diece Libri Della Pirotechnia, Nelli quali si tratta non solo la diversità...

6 p.l., 276 pp. 12mo, cont. vellum over boards. Paris: C. du Mesnil & T. Jolly, 1654.

First edition of “the first independent bibliography of chemistry and alchemy, including manuscript material, based on the author’s very considerable collection of 4,000 books and manuscripts. Borel, ‘medecin ordinaire du Roy,’ made some original contributions to medicine and also wrote on optics, the microscope, botany, and antiquarian subjects.”–Grolier Club, Bibliography, 59.

A fine copy of a book which has become scarce. Contemporary signature “Ex libris Francisci Sauvin Med.” at head of title. François Sauvin was a 17th-century physician who wrote or edited a number of medical... More about Bibliotheca Chimica. Seu Catalogus Librorum Philosophicorum Hermeticorum...Authorum...

Title printed in red & black and within typographical border. 48 leaves (final leaf blank). Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards (minor foxing), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Konstanz: N. Kalt, 1598.

Second edition, corrected and improved (the first edition appeared in the same city in 1589). In the 16th century, it was widely believed that “marvelous stones” (bezoars or small stony concretions that form in the stomach of certain animals) had considerable medical virtues, especially against poisons.

In this work, Hyeble describes the remarkable mystical and medicinal powers of the bezoar, drawn from his own travels in Portuguese India... More about Tractat von der aller fürtrefflichsten und kräftigsten Artzney wider allerley Gifft: welches...

8 p.l., 361, [23] pp. Small 8vo, cont. flexible vellum, ties gone. Paris: Martin le Jeune, 1580.

First edition, and a splendid pure copy in its first binding, of a rare and important book in the history of chemistry, hydrology, geology, agriculture, etc., etc. Palissy (ca. 1509-89), who is best known for his discovery of the secret of enamelling pottery, was far in advance of his time in scientific ideas.

The “Discours admirables, probably incorporates Palissy’s Paris lectures. It…deals with an impressive array of subjects: agriculture, alchemy, botany, ceramics, embalming, engineering, geology, hydrology, medicine, metallurgy, meteorology, mineralogy, paleontology, philosophy, physics, toxicology, and zoology... More about Discours Admirables, de la Nature des Eaux et Fonteines, tant naturelles qu'artificielles, des...