RUSCELLI, GIROLAMI. (ALEXIS OF PIEDMONT).

Kriegs und Archeley Kunst. Das ist, Gründliche unnd aussführliche Underweisung was nicht allein einem Capitain oder Hauptmann, sondern auch einem Archeley und Büchenmeister fürnemlich zu wissen von nöthen: Wie eine Vestung zu beschützen, unnd Gleicfalls auch im Gegentheil einzunehmen sey, und allerley Kriegs=Munition zu verfertigen..... Auff das aller trewlichste verteutscht... und mit schönen und nützlichen Kupfferstücken gezieret.

Franckfurt, Jacobi di Zetter, 1620. Folio. Bound in a 19th century hcal. Gilt spine. Titlelabel with gilt lettering. Spine ends and fronthinge repaired. Spine rubbed. Fine (a bit shaved) engraved pictorial title (canons, equipment etc.), (12),145,(3) pp. and 15 double-page engraved plates, 8 showing artillery in function, technical descriptions, and diving equipments shown on plate 14 !!). A few brownspots to plates. One plate with a repaired tear, no loss. Textleaves clean and fine.

First German edition. A second part was issued with its own separate title-page. The offered parts deals with artillery and is complete with the 15 plates. The diving equipments depicted on plate 14 consist of an inflated bladder which is attached to a belt and an iron-head with a long snorkel and some air-pumps used for diving activities.
Jähns, 656. - Sloos. Warfare and the Age of Printing, 7008.

The Italian physician, alchemist and cartographer, Alexis of Piedmont or Girolamo Ruscelli, was born in Viterbo, Italy around 1500 (perhaps earlier), and died in Venice, Italy around 1565. He is (probably) the author of the important "Secreti", published in 1555, and the "Secreti Nuovi", published in 1567, the first of which was extremely popular and of considerable influence, the second of which must be said to be of the greatest interest, but apparently not very widely read. He also translated the Geography of Ptolemy into Italian, and his books on war and fire-works are now quite scarce. Most of his works were popular in his life-time and the century to come, and they were translated into Latin, German, French and Welsh. At a very early point he indicated the plan of a scientific academy, and he must be said to be a very interesting 16th century scientist.

Order-nr.: 56365