Barba, Alvaro Alonso | Berg-Buchlein darinnen von der Metallen und Mineralien Generalia und Ursprung...

Barba, Alvaro Alonso 

 [Arte de los metales]. Berg-Buchlein darinnen von der Metallen und Mineralien Generalia und Ursprung ... In Teutsch ubersetzet von I.L.M.C. Hamburg: Gottfried Schultzen, 1676 

2 parts in one (continuous pagination), 8vo (161 x 90 mm). One engraved plate; text somewhat browned. English modern calf antique. 

First Edition in German of this renowned treatise on mining and metallurgy. It was the first significant work on the subject in Spanish, and the first work on mining in the Americas. “Barba’s work is in five books. The first (34 chapters) deals with the generation of metals and things accompanying them; the second (24 chapters) with the extraction of silver by mercury; the third (16 chapters and 13 figures) with the process he discovered in 1607 for the extraction of gold, silver and copper by boiling with salt solution and mercury in a copper vessel; the fourth (22 chapters and 48 figures) with the extraction of these metals by fusion; and the fifth (15 chapters and 13 figures) with the refining and separation of these metals” (Partington, A History of Chemistry). 

REFERENCES

Honeyman sale 1:200; Hoover 84; Palau 23634; Partington II, pp. 39-40; Sabin 3255b 

PROVENANCE

Franz Sondheimer (bookplate; Christie’s London, 11 November 1994, lot 13)