Biringucci, Vannuccio; De La Pirotechnia. Li diece libri della pirotechnia, Nelli quali si tratta non solo la diversita delle minere, ma ancho quanto si ricerca alla prattica di esse: e di quanto s'appartiene all'arte della fusione over getto de metalli, e d'ogni altra cosa a questa somigliante. Venetia, 1558 ( 1559 in coloph.) Octavo, pp. 356 (paginated 1 side only, page 288 incorrectly numbered), text illustrated.

The volume is complete and in contemporary vellum covered boards, some spotting to upper spine, early inked notation verso of title page. In very good condition.
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Biringucci (1480-1539) was an Italian miner, metallurgist, foundry operator and fortification builder for some of Italy's leading citizens. He wrote down his vast knowledge on the use of fire in the arts and industry and had just begun publication of his work when he dies following a brief illness. His work is the first comprehensive treatise on the fire-using arts and is considered one of the classics in the history of science and technology. The first edition appeared in 1540, and was followed by a printing in 1550 and the above offered printing of 1558. Biringucci stresses the use of mineral and metals in the arts; their alloying, working, and the art of casting. He provides the earliest account of the method of typecasting and the making of statutes, medallions and bells. Agricola was to borrow many sections of Biringucci's work for use in his "De Re Metallica".