Beschreibung Allerfurnemisten Mineralischen Ertzt und Bergwercks arten, wie dieselbigen, und eine jede insonderheit, ihrer Natur und Eygenschafft nach, auff alle Metalla Probirt, unnd im kleinen Fewer sollen versucht werden...in fuenff Buecher verfasst...
Frankfurt: Tampachs, 1692.
Title page printed in red & black, and with a large woodcut vignette. Illustrated with 42 remarkable woodcuts (all large, many full-page), depicting mining, smelting & refining operations. Numerous large decorative initials and tailpieces throughout.[1], 134, [3] leaves. Short folio, full contemporary vellum (binding a bit soiled and worn but very firm; old signature on title; some pages toned but with very little foxing; pale dampstains at margin of fore edge on some leaves; several small professional repairs). Franckfurt am Mayn: Gottfried Tampachs, 1629. Fourth edition. Very Good.
This work is Ercker's crowning achievement. It was highly prized in its time, and remained an important technical book for over 200 years because of its precise data concerning the fusion processes of gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, lead and mercury. "Ercker described laboratory procedures and equipment, gave an account of preparing the cupel, of constructing furnaces, and of the assaying balance and the method of operating it. He used as his model Agricola's De re Metallica, yet he was quite original and included on the procedures he himself had tested." -DSB IV 393. Ferguson I 242-5; Duveen 194-5 (both listing 3rd edition of 1598); Hoover 282; Partington I 104-7.
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Language: German
Price: $6,500.00
Item #157644