Canepari, Pietro Marie | The first work on the preparation of writing ink

Canepari, Pietro Marie

De Atramentis culuscunque Generis in Sex Descriptiones digestum. London: J.M., 1660

Small 4to. Contemporary French sheep; corners somewhat worn, some rubbing.

First edition printed in England of the first work on the preparation of writing ink (the first edition is Venice, 1619).

Canepari, professor of medicine at Venice, describes "pyrites, cadmia, magnesia, marcasite, vitriols, the preparation of inks and ink powders, and the preparation and uses of oil of vitriol...It includes a chapter on Brazil wood...which came from Tamasin, a town in the province of Brasil... It also deals with mineral colours and pigments, spagyric or chemical medicines prepared by alchemy, the kinds of fire, the anatomy of vitriol and the preparation of oil of vitriols, etc., all copiously interspersed with classical quotations” Partington, I, pp. 94-95. The section on printing ink includes details on secret and magic writing, and erasing letters.

REFERENCES

Bonacini 315; Duveen, p. 115; Ferguson, pp. 139-40; Thorndike, VII, pp. 250-52

PROVENANCE

Philippe Denis Pierres (1741-1808), Parisian printer and historian of printing (ownership inscription)