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1498 - Geology – Metallurgy
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Estimate €1,400 - €1,800
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Description
Geology – Metallurgy Ercker, Lazarus Aula Subterranea Domina Dominantium Subdita Subditorum. That is to say: The Underground Court / Without which neither the lords can rule / nor the subjects obey. Or A Thorough Description of Those Things / Which Grow in the Depths of the Earth / Such as All Ores of Precious and Common Metals / as well as the Most Distinguished Minerals / Through Which / Next to God / All the Arts, Crafts and Professions of the World Are Practised and Sustained. Frankfurt am Main, published by Johann David Zunner, 1684. Bound together with: BERWARD, Christian. *Interpres Phraseologiae Metallurgicae*, or an Explanation of the Most Distinguished Terms and Figures of Speech commonly used by miners, smelters, assayers, and mint masters, etc., in describing their craft and work. With an engraved frontispiece and 41 woodcuts, some full-page in size. Frankfurt am Main, Johann David Zunner, 1684. (14) 210, 123 (5), 68 pp. Late half-leather. VD 17, 39:123441K. - Ferguson I, 243. - Hoover 283. - An important edition of Ercker’s magnum opus on mining and metallurgy, assaying and metallurgy, combined with Christian Berward’s technical dictionary of mining terms. Ercker’s work, first published in 1574 under the title *Beschreibung allerfürnemisten Mineralischen Ertzt und Bergwercksarten*, became one of the most influential handbooks on mining science of the early modern period and saw numerous reprints right up to the 18th century. The programmatic title *Aula Subterranea*, in use since 1672, emphasises the fundamental importance of the subterranean realm of ores and minerals for the state, the economy and industry. Lazarus Ercker (c. 1530–1594), Imperial Chief Mining Master and Master of the Mint in Prague, discusses the extraction, assessment and processing of the most important ores and metals. The focus is on assaying techniques, washing, roasting, smelting, separation and refining, as well as the practical set-up of the furnaces, equipment and workshops required for these processes. As a technically sound guide, the work combines empirical knowledge of chemistry and metallurgy with issues relating to the mining economy and administration, and occupies a central position in the history of European metallurgy. The accompanying *Interpres Phraseologiae Metallurgicae* complements Ercker’s handbook in a particularly useful way. Berward explains the technical jargon used by miners, crushers, smelters, assayers and mint masters, thereby elucidating the technical terminology central to mining and metallurgy. The combination of these two works documents the close relationship between theoretical and practical metallurgy and professional jargon in the late 17th century. - Endpapers replaced; frontispiece slightly trimmed on the left-hand margin; 2 small wormholes in the white margin; occasional marginal notes in old hand; otherwise in good condition. Geology. – Metallurgy. – With an engraved frontispiece and 41 woodcuts in the text, some full-page. – An important edition of Ercker’s principal work on mining, metallurgy, assaying and the processing of ores, bound with Christian Berward’s mining glossary. First published in 1574 under the title *Beschreibung allerfürnemisten Mineralischen Ertzt und Bergwercksarten*, Ercker’s work became one of the most influential early-modern manuals on mining and metallurgy and went through numerous editions into the 18th century. The programmatic title *Aula Subterranea*, in use since 1672, emphasises the fundamental importance of the subterranean realm of ores and minerals for the state, the economy and the trades. Lazarus Ercker (c. 1530–1594), Imperial Chief Mining Officer and Master of the Mint in Prague, discusses the extraction, examination and processing of the principal ores and metals. The focus is on methods of assaying, washing, roasting, smelting, separating and refining, as well as on the practical layout of the furnaces, apparatus and workshops required for these operations. A technically sophisticated manual, the work combines practical chemical and metallurgical knowledge with the economic and administrative aspects of mining, and occupies a central place in the history of European metallurgy. The appended *Interpres Phraseologiae Metallurgicae* provides a particularly useful complement to Ercker’s manual. Berward explains the technical vocabulary used by miners, ore dressers, smelters, assayers and mint masters, thereby elucidating the specialised terminology essential to mining and metallurgy. The binding of the two works together illustrates the close relationship between practical and theoretical metallurgical knowledge and occupational technical language in the late 17th century. - Endpapers replaced, frontispiece trimmed somewhat close to the left margin, two small wormholes in the blank margin, occasional early handwritten marginal notes, otherwise in good condition. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard margin scheme. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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