BIRINGUCCIO, Vannuccio. Pirotechnia. Li diece libri della pirotechnia.Venezia, per Giovan Padoano, a instantia di Curtio di Navò, 1550In 8vo. 200x146 mm. Legatura in pergamena rigida posteriore rimontata. Carte [8], 167, [1, con marca editoriale]. Titolo incorniciato da ricca bordura silografica con il trionfo di Venezia in alto ed il leone di San Marco in basso attorniati da alambicchi, campane, fornaci ed altri strumenti, capilettera entro vignette silografiche, 84 interessantissime figure silografiche nel testo raffiguranti strumenti e metodi per la lavorazione dei metalli, per la produzione di vetri, campane per la distillazione ed altro, con fornaci e alambicchi. Nota di possesso al Frontespizio, firma cassata al secondo foglio, bell’esemplare fresco. Seconda edizione, riccamente figurata. Celebre opera sulla metallurgia e la mineralogia, la lavorazione a fuoco, con riferimenti anche all'alchimia. Questa edizione, con lo stesso numero di fogli e le stesse figure della prima del 1540, è tipograficamente superiore, concordemente al parere di Smith & Gnudi, traduttori dell’edizione inglese (1942). L’opera, che illustra la tecnica della lavorazione a fuoco, si compone di dieci libri suddivisi in capitoli: descrive i metalli, la metodologia per formare le leghe e per la lavorazione dei metalli stessi, tratta della calamita e sue proprietà, delle miniere, delle fornaci, dell’artiglieria, della distillazione, della fusione, delle campane ed anche dei fuochi artificiali. Hoover Coll. 129-30: ".one of the classics in the history of science and technology". Duveen: “famous book on metallurgy and mining, containing interesting chapters on alchemy and illustrated by very fine woodcuts”. Mieli: “Il trattato di Biringuccio si può qualificare come la prima opera organica relativa a tutto un gruppo di scienze applicate che sia stata pubblicata nel Rinascimento.” Norman: “The first comprehensive treatise on the pyrotechnic arts. … Virtually all of Biringuccio's descriptions are original, based upon first-hand information garnered during his various employments as a mine and forge operator, director of the Sienese mint, cannon caster and fortification builder, director of building construction at the Duomo, and head of the papal foundry and munitions works… Biringuccio's work is important to art history for its description of the Renaissance methods of casting medallions, statues and bells; and to the history of printing for containing the earliest known account of typecasting. His contributions to chemistry include the first account of silver amalgamation and liquation, the earliest mention of cobalt blue and manganese, and the first description of antimony, antedating that of Basil Valentine by fifty years.” Biringuccio, Siena 1480 - Roma 1537, chimico, mineralogista e metallurgista, professò la matematica e si occupò della fusione dei metalli e della polvere da sparo.Adams, B-2083; Honeyman Coll. 336; Hoover Coll. 131; Mortimer, Italian 66 (Anm.); Wellcome I, 874. Duveen p. 79. Dibner 38; Parkinson, Breakthroughs, 1540. Mieli, “Scienziati italiani”, I, pp. 20-24. Norman 233 (Prima ediz.)

8vo. 200x146 mm. Later stiff vellum reassembled. Leaves [8], 167, [1, with printer’s device]. Title framed by rich woodcut border with the triumph of Venice at the top and the lion of San Marco at the bottom surrounded by stills, bells, furnaces and other tools, drop caps within woodcut vignettes, 84 very interesting woodcut illustrations in the text depicting tools and methods for processing of metals, for the production of glass, bells for distillation and more, with furnaces and stills. Ownership note on the Titlepage, signature deleted on the second sheet, beautiful fresh copy.
Second edition, richly illustrated. Famous work on metallurgy and mineralogy, fireworking, with references also to alchemy. This edition, with the same number of leaves and the same figures as the first of 1540, is typographically superior, in accordance with the opinion of Smith & Gnudi, translators of the English edition (1942). The work, which illustrates the technique of fireworking, consists of ten books divided into chapters: it describes metals, the methodology for forming alloys and for working the metals themselves, deals with the magnet and its properties, mines, furnaces, artillery, distillation, smelting, bells and even fireworks. Hoover Coll. 129-30: ".one of the classics in the history of science and technology". Duveen: "famous book on metallurgy and mining, containing interesting chapters on alchemy and illustrated by very fine woodcuts". Mieli: "Biringuccio's treatise can be qualified as the first organic work relating to a whole group of applied sciences that was published in the Renaissance." Norman: “The first comprehensive treatise on the pyrotechnic arts. … Virtually all of Biringuccio's descriptions are original, based upon first-hand information garnered during his various employments as a mine and forge operator, director of the Sienese mint, cannon caster and fortification builder, director of building construction at the Duomo, and head of the papal foundry and munitions works… Biringuccio's work is important to art history for its description of the Renaissance methods of casting medallions, statues and bells; and to the history of printing for containing the earliest known account of typecasting. His contributions to chemistry include the first account of silver amalgamation and liquation, the earliest mention of cobalt blue and manganese, and the first description of antimony, antedating that of Basil Valentine by fifty years.”Biringuccio, Siena 1480 - Rome 1537, chemist, mineralogist and metallurgist, professed mathematics and dealt with the smelting of metals and gunpowder.