Biringucci, Vannoccio | The first French translation of Pirotechnia

Biringucci, Vannoccio — Jaques Vincent, trans.

La Pyrotechnie, ou art de feu, contenant dix livres… Paris: C. Fremy, 1556

4to (223 x 155 mm). Woodcut device on title, woodcut initials and illustrations; some soiling, a few small spots, occasional light marginal toning, the final ten leaves with a small chip to fore edges and a pale dampstain. Later vellum-colored paper backed blue boards, manuscript spine title; some mild soiling and toning to boards, a few spots of wear to the extremities.

The first French edition of Biringucci's early and important work on metallurgy. While the text is excellently printed and the illustrations are well copied, the translation is inconsistent, with many omissions, condensations, and misinterpretations. Since many of the English writers used the French translation for source material, it caused a number of false interpretations of Biringucci’s ideas.

REFERENCES

Norman, 238 (1540 edition); Schuh (2007), I, 595; Neu, Chemical, Medical, & Pharmaceutical Books, 471; Shaaber, Sixteenth Century Imprints, B-419

PROVENANCE

Early manuscript ownership inscription on title — Earls of Macclesfield (armorial bookplate and blindstamp; Sotheby’s London, 10 June 2004, “The Library of the Earls of Macclesfield removed from Shirburn Castle, Part 2: Science A-C,” lot 362)