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an open book with a drawing of a circular object on itan open book with a drawing of a man on a seesaw and a tree in the backgroundan open book with a drawing of a machine on itan old book with a brown cover sitting on top of a white surface
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1576 - Physics – Mechanics – Cabinet of Curiosities
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Estimate €1,200 - €1,600
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Description
Physics – Mechanics – Cabinet of Curiosities Grollier de Servière, Nicolas A collection of curious works on mathematics and mechanics, or a description of Monsieur Grollier de Servière’s cabinet. With 85 copperplate plates, some of which have been additionally etched by Daudet, a large copperplate head vignette and initial, as well as numerous floral and ornamental vignettes, initials and decorative borders in woodcut. Lyon, Forey, 1719. 14 leaves (title page in red and black, dedication, preface, table of contents, private note), 101 (1) pp., 5 leaves (register, list of plates, errata). 4°. Contemporary calf leather binding on five raised bands, gold-stamped. Title on leather label in the second of six compartments, gold-stamped double fillet framing between the spine compartments and on the covers, ornamentally blind-stamped edges and coloured edges on the reverse (the latter faded; the spine expertly restored at the joints and headbands, with minimal defects in the binding, somewhat bumped and scuffed). First edition of the famous ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ on experimental mechanics in book form. – Baillie, pp. 153ff. (with illustration from Plate XIV, clock) – Wellcome III, 168. – Honeyman Coll. 1560 (with illustration from Plate XIII, clock). – A posthumous work, compiled by his grandson, on the remarkable inventions of the French engineer and officer of the Corps of Engineers, Nicolas Grollier de Servière (1596–1689). Depicted are clocks, lamps, pontoon bridges, hoists, mills, scoop wheels, pulley systems, locks, a rotating magazine for books, etc., developed on the basis of (experimental) mechanics, some of which appear rather curious. Grollier ran a much-visited cabinet in Lyon featuring an exhibition of his inventions, which was visited by King Louis XIV, amongst others. - The complete set of plates is numbered I–XXXVIII, XL–XLVII, XLIX–LXXV and LXXVII–LXXXVIII; plates XXXIX, XLVIII and LXXVI are missing, as indicated in the plate catalogue for the bookbinder. - Provenance: Thomas Knight I (1701–81) or II (1735–94), English landowners; mounted on the front endpaper with their engraved ex-libris bearing the family coat of arms. Thomas Knight II adopted Edward Austen, the brother of the author Jane Austen. - Plate XIV is slightly rubbed in the centre of the illustration. Some of the leaves are slightly browned throughout. The first flyleaf (recto) bears notes in pencil. Overall, an outstanding copy with hardly any stains, featuring wide margins and richly contrasted engraved copper plates with rough-edged etched areas and deep black tones. Physics. – Mechanics. – First edition of the famous printed cabinet of curiosities on experimental mechanics, profusely illustrated with 85 copper plates, some of which are also etched, by Daudet. Bound in contemporary full calf on five raised bands with a gilt title on a leather label in the second of six compartments, gilt double fillet framing between the spine compartments and on both boards, ornamental blind-stamped board edges as well as coloured edges (these faded; spine expertly restored at the joints and headbands, with minimal cover defects, somewhat bumped and scuffed). - For references, see above. - A posthumous work, edited by his grandson, on the remarkable inventions of the French engineer and officer of the Corps of Engineers, Nicolas Grollier de Servière (1596–1689). Depicted are clocks, lamps, pontoon bridges, hoists, mills, water wheels, pulleys, locks, and even a rolling magazine for books, etc., all developed on the basis of (experimental) mechanics, some of which appear rather curious. Grollier ran a much-visited cabinet in Lyon showcasing an exhibition of his inventions, which was visited by King Louis XIV, amongst others. - The plates are numbered I–XXXVIII, XL–XLVII, XLIX–LXXV and LXXVII–LXXXVIII. Plates numbered XXXIX, XLVIII and LXXVI are not bound in, as indicated in the plate list for the bookbinder; this is therefore a complete copy. - Provenance: Thomas Knight I (1701–81) or II (1735–94), English landowners, with their engraved bookplate bearing the family coat of arms mounted on the front endpaper. Thomas Knight II adopted Edward Austen, the brother of Jane Austen. - Plate XIV is slightly rubbed in the centre of the illustration. Some of the leaves are slightly browned throughout. The first flyleaf (recto) contains notes in pencil. Overall, an excellent, barely stained copy with wide margins. The high-contrast engraved copper plates are sharp and of rich blackness, whilst the etched parts have a strong burr. 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 standard taxation. 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
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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