Mining & metallurgy.- Agricola (Georgius) Opera de l'arte de metalli partita in XII. libri, first edition in Italian, Basel, Hieronymus Froben et Nicolaus Episcopius, 1563.

Mining & metallurgy.- Agricola (Georgius) Opera de l'arte de metalli partita in XII. libri, collation: *6 a-z6 A-V6, title with woodcut printer's device, numerous woodcut illustrations, some full-page, penultimate f. with colophon recto otherwise blank, final f. with woodcut printer's device verso otherwise blank, browning and foxing to varying degrees throughout, 19th century half morocco, rebakced, preserving original worn backstrip, corners worn, rubbed, folio (335 x 229mm.), Basel, Hieronymus Froben et Nicolaus Episcopius, [1563].

⁂ First edition in Italian. 'The magnificent woodcut illustrations are a feature of this great work which remained unexcelled for generations. It marks the beginning of scientific method through observations as distinct from the purely scholastic approach of the Middle Ages.' (Annan, Historic books on mining, p. 6).

Literature: Hoover 27; EDIT 16 CNCE 528; cf. Duveen pp.4-5 and Ferguson I, pp.9-11.