ERCKER, Lazarus (c.1530-1594). Beschreibung allerfurnemisten mineralischen Ertzt unnd Bergwercks Arten. Frankfurt: J. Schmidt for S. Feyrabendt, 1580 [Bound with:] AGRICOLA, Georgius (1494-1555). Bergwerck Buch: darinn nicht allain alle Empter, Instrument Gezeug, und alles, so zu diesem Handel gehörig, mit Figuren vorgebildet. Translated by Philipp Bech. Frankfurt: J. Schmidt for S. Feyrabendt, 1580.

Attractive copy of two of the most important metallurgical treatises of the 16th century. Ercker's richly illustrated book, here in the second edition with seven woodcuts not present in the 1574 first printing, "presents a systematic review of the methods of testing alloys and minerals of silver, gold, copper, antimony, mercury, bismuth, and lead; of obtaining and refining these metals, as well as of obtaining acids, salts, and other compounds" (DSB). He modeled his work on Georgius Agricola's De re metallica, but only includes procedures and techniques he had tested himself. It is bound here with the second German edition of Agricola's work, also published by Feyrabendt in 1580. The De re metallica, which first appeared in 1556, is “a landmark machine book and the first systematic publication on mineralogy” (Andrews). The present edition consists of the sheets of the first German edition of 1557, with a newly printed title and preface. I: Ward and Carozzi 752; Wellcome 2066; see Dibner 89 (first edition); this edition not in the Hoover, Duveen, or Ferguson. II: Hoover 23; see PMM (first edition) and Andrews, Theatre of Machine Books, p. 49 (first Latin and first German editions).

Two works bound in one, folio (300 x 195mm). Second work bound without the two unpaginated and unsigned woodcut templates for measuring rods and instrument, only inserted in some copies. Both titles printed in red and black. Woodcut vignette on title of first work, many woodcut illustrations in both texts (occasional browning). 18th-century German yapped vellum with "1714" stamped on spine, blue edges. Provenance: a few marginal comments.