$18,000
Ramelli, Agostino (1531-1600) Le Diverse et Artificiose Machine . Paris: Casa del'Autore, 1588. First edition, folio, engraved title, portrait, illustrated with 195 engravings (174 full-page, twenty-one double page), text printed within typographic borders throughout, in French and Italian on facing pages throughout, title page and two double page plates with library stamp in blank margins; engraved title page/portrait leaf with three old glassine paper repairs, text with marginal toning; corner stain on the last eighty leaves; bound in contemporary tight-backed parchment over boards, rebacked. In addition to applying basic mill technology (driven by water, man, or beast) to everything conceivable, Ramelli also contributes a section to the art of breaking and entering, with machines for raising doors off their hinges, devices to release portcullises, and several cranks designed to spread iron bars. Among book lovers, the wheel of many open books is the most coveted of Ramelli's inventions. The section on weapons of war is also worthy of note.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2012-11-18