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Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli.

Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli.

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Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli.

by RAMELLI

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  • Hardcover
  • first
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About This Item

Paris, in casa del autore, 1588.

Folio [320 x 210 mm], 16 ll., 338 ll., 194 engraved plates including 20 on double-page. Last plate slightly stained, pale waterstain in the lower margin of ll. 58 to 63. Full red morocco, covers decorated, spine ribbed and decorated slightly faded, inner border, gilt edges. Binding from the end of the 17th century.

First edition of Agostino Ramelli's important illustrated treatise, dedicated to this monarch. Ramelli was the Italian engineer of Henry III.

Brunet, IV, 1095; Mortimer, French, 452; Dibner, Heralds of Science, 173; Norman, 1777.

The Duke of Anjou, future Henri III, saved him by paying his ransom when he was dangerously injured and taken prisoner at the siege of La Rochelle in 1573. As Henri III became a king he kept Ramelli close to him by awarding him a considerable pension.

This fundamental treatise of mechanics is therefore dedicated to Henri III and Ramelli expresses all his gratitude towards the royal favour in his dedication.

The author is also complaining in his address to the reader, of the piracy of his drawings unused and unwittingly published. In order to make up for this, Ramelli scheduled and oversaw himself a specific layout intended to avoid any mutilation. The work has been printed at the writer expenses, in his own house "In casa del autore".

Thus it explains the traditional character of the impression and the fact that some privileged copies count a few additional prints contemporarily mounted and pasted by Ramelli and his team of printers.

This is the case of the present copy, one of the purest and finest copies to appear on the market since a long time, with the engravings I-V and CXXVIII contemporarily mounted by Ramelli "In casa del autore".

"This work, written in Italian and French, is rare and sought-after." (Brunet).

"His machines became part of the common stock of mechanical knowledge and his mechanical treatise remained a primary influence for at least two centuries." (Norman).

The outstanding illustration consists of 194 large engravings, including 20 double-page plates.

Of a major interest for history of engineering, they describe extraordinary hydraulic or war machines, represented in action, such as these machines made to raise water, carry heavy weights, throw burning grenades, ballistas or catapults.

Some of the engravings also represent ingenious machine for domestic use, such as the famous "the book wheel", water mills, fountains, automatons.

We notice the application of the angled axis, the sucking and force pump, Archimedes' screw and Heron's fountain.

There is also, less the steam, the paddle boat as well as a mechanical sawmill.

"The engravings are among the best in technological illustration". Dibner.

This fine work, printed in French and Italian, is also illustrated with a title and an architectural engraved frame and with a portrait of the author by Leonard Gaultier.

All these illustrations are presented in engraved frames.

The most important illustrated technical treatise from the 16th century. A very pure copy of great beauty, rarely found bound in such antiquarian decorated morocco with a very lightly faded spine.


FRENCH

Paris, in casa del autore, 1588.

In-folio de (16) ff., 338 ff. 194 planches gravées dont 20 sur double page. Dernière planche légèrement tachée, pâle mouillure dans la marge inférieure des ff. 58 à 63. Plein maroquin rouge, plats ornés d'un décor à la Du Seuil, dos à nerfs orné insolé, coupes décorées, roulette intérieure, tranches dorées. Reliure de la fin du XVIIe siècle.

320 x 210 mm.

Édition originale de l'important traité illustré d'Augustin Ramelli, l'ingénieur italien du roi Henri III, dédiée à ce monarque.

Brunet, IV, 1095 ; Mortimer, French, 452 ; Dibner, Heralds of Science, 173 ; Norman 1777.

Le duc d'Anjou, futur Henri III, le sauva en payant sa rançon lorsqu'il fut dangereusement blessé et fait prisonnier au siège de La Rochelle en 1573. Devenu roi, Henri III fixa Ramelli près de lui en le gratifiant d'une pension considérable.

Ce traité fondamental de mécanique est ainsi dédié à Henri III et Ramelli exprime toute sa gratitude pour la faveur royale dans sa dédicace.

L'auteur se plaint également dans son adresse au lecteur, du piratage de ses dessins publiés à son insu et inutilisés. Pour pallier ces problèmes Ramelli planifia lui-même et supervisa une mise en page rigoureuse destinée à écarter toute mutilation. L'ouvrage fut imprimé aux frais de l'auteur, dans sa propre maison (" In casa del autore ").

Ceci explique le caractère artisanal de l'impression et le fait que certains exemplaires privilégiés possèdent quelques estampes montées et collées à l'époque par Ramelli et son équipe d'imprimeurs.

Tel est le cas du présent exemplaire, l'un des plus purs et beau passé sur le marché depuis longtemps, avec les gravures I-V et CXXVIII montées à l'époque par Ramelli " In Casa del autore ".

" Cet ouvrage, écrit en italien et en français, est rare et recherché " (Brunet).

"His machines became part of the common stock of mechanical knowledge and his mechanical treatise remained a primary influence for at least two centuries" (Norman).

L'illustration, absolument remarquable, comprend 194 grandes estampes, dont 20 sur double page.

D'un intérêt capital dans l'histoire de l'ingénierie, elles décrivent d'extraordinaires machines hydrauliques ou de guerre, représentées en action, telles ces machines destinées à élever l'eau, à traîner de lourdes charges, à lancer des traits et des grenades enflammées, balistes et catapultes.

Certaines des gravures représentent également plusieurs machines ingénieuses à usage domestique, telles que la célèbre " roue à livres ", des moulins à eau, des fontaines, des automates.

On y remarque l'application de l'axe coudé, de la pompe aspirante et foulante, de la vis d'Archimède et de la fontaine de Héron.

Y figure même, moins la vapeur, notre bateau à aubes ainsi qu'une scierie mécanique.

"The engravings are among the best in technological illustration". Dibner.

Ce bel ouvrage, imprimé en français et en italien, est également illustré d'un titre inséré dans un encadrement architectural grave et d'un portrait de l'auteur par Léonard Gaultier.

Toutes ces illustrations sont elles aussi présentées dans des encadrements gravés.

Le plus important traité illustré de technique du XVIe siècle. Exemplaire de grande beauté intérieure, très pur, l'un des rarissimes reliés en maroquin ancien orné d'un décor à la Du Seuil au dos quelque peu insolé.

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Details

Bookseller
LIBRAIRIE CAMILLE SOURGET FR (FR)
Bookseller's Inventory #
JUINBB13
Title
Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli.
Author
RAMELLI
Book Condition
Used
Quantity Available
1
Binding
Hardcover
Weight
0.00 lbs

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LIBRAIRIE CAMILLE SOURGET

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About the Seller

LIBRAIRIE CAMILLE SOURGET

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2020
Paris

About LIBRAIRIE CAMILLE SOURGET

The Bookshop Camille Sourget is specialised in literary first editions, travel books and atlases, scientific books as well as any beautiful illustrated books that marked their century. Its area of expertise extends from the 15th to the beginning of the 20th century.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Plate
Full page illustration or photograph. Plates are printed separately from the text of the book, and bound in at production. I.e.,...
Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Fine
A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Spine
The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Edges
The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
Morocco
Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...

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