AGRICOLAE (Georgii) - De Re Metallica libri XII, quibus officia, instrumenta, machinae, ac omnia denique ad metallicam. Basileae Helvet, Ludovici Regis, 1621. In folio, third edition of this important work, the original edition of which appeared with Froben in 1556. Illustrated with 273 woodcuts by R. Manval Deutsch, including two fold-outs. This is the first treatise on mining and metallurgy and one of the first "technological" works of modern times, whose rich iconography is one of the major sources on the techniques used in mining. It also includes a chapter on the life of underground animals and miners' illnesses. Full posterior muted boards. (the boards are rubbed, the spine is slightly split, several pages are browned and soiled). Expert : Mr Nicolas Asvisio