Mercati (Michele) Metallotheca. Opus posthumum, 2 parts in 1, including appendix, first illustrated edition, folding engraved frontispiece, titles in red and black and with engraved vignette, 6 engraved plates (1 folding), engraved illustrations, errata f. and 'Regestum' f. with engraved printer's device at end of part 1, lacking half-title and a portrait, some spotting or light foxing, contemporary calf, rebacked, corners worn, rubbed, [Hoover 581; Sinkankas 4390; Ward & Carozzi 1541; Caillet 7390], folio, Rome, Johannes Maria Salvioni, 1719. ⁂ A landmark treatise in the history of mineralogy and metallurgy. Mercati was personal physician to Popes Gregory XIII and Clement VIII, and superintendent of the Vatican Botanical Garden. He formed one of the first organised collections of minerals under the aegis of Pope Sixtus V. 'The collection reflects the state of knowledge extant at the time, and therefore includes objects of presumed magical or medicinal virtue as well as those which are correctly identified and described' (Sinkankas).
Mercati (Michele) Metallotheca. Opus posthumum, 2 parts in 1, including appendix, first illustrated edition, folding engraved frontispiece, titles in red and black and with engraved vignette, 6 engraved plates (1 folding), engraved illustrations, errata f. and 'Regestum' f. with engraved printer's device at end of part 1, lacking half-title and a portrait, some spotting or light foxing, contemporary calf, rebacked, corners worn, rubbed, [Hoover 581; Sinkankas 4390; Ward & Carozzi 1541; Caillet 7390], folio, Rome, Johannes Maria Salvioni, 1719. ⁂ A landmark treatise in the history of mineralogy and metallurgy. Mercati was personal physician to Popes Gregory XIII and Clement VIII, and superintendent of the Vatican Botanical Garden. He formed one of the first organised collections of minerals under the aegis of Pope Sixtus V. 'The collection reflects the state of knowledge extant at the time, and therefore includes objects of presumed magical or medicinal virtue as well as those which are correctly identified and described' (Sinkankas).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
