BESSON (Jacques). THEATRE DES INSTRUMENS MATHEMATIQUES ET MECHANIQUES by J. Besson, dauphinois, docte mathématicien. Lyon, Barthélémy Vincent, 1578. In-folio of 20-60 unnumbered leaves, brown calf, gilt fillets on covers, spine ribbed and decorated (period binding). The oldest work on the subject, first published in Orléans in 1569. This is the first French edition illustrated with a fine title frame and 60 full-page copper-engraved plates attributed to Jacques Androuet du Cerceau. The latter show an extraordinary variety of inventions ranging from a musical instrument to a pump for extinguishing fire from a distance, not forgetting machines for lifting loads, emptying or lifting submerged ships, etc. The copy has been replaced in its binding which has undergone several well-executed restorations, a few light marginal rings, several foxings, the copy remains very decent and has retained wide margins. (Brunet I, 829-30) (USTC, 30199).