Siemienowicz, Vollkommene Geschutz- Feuerwerck- und Büchsenmeisterey-Kunst, Frankfurt, 1676, armorial calf

SIEMIENOWICZ, KAZIMIERZ AND ULRICH VON CRANACH

Two works in one volume, comprising:

i. Siemienowicz, K. Vollkommene Geschütz- Feuerwerck und Büchsenmeisterey-Kunst. Frankfurt: Heinrich Friese for Johann David Zunner, 1676, 2 parts, 2 additional engraved title-pages, title printed in red and black with woodcut device, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, with blank leaf )()(4, 21 (of 22) & 25 engraved plates, lacking folding plate

ii. Cranach, Ulrich von. Deliciae Cranachianae... Rare und kunstreiche Fried- und Krieges-Inventiones. Hamburg: Gottfried Schultze, 1672, 11 engraved plates

2 works in one volume, folio (294 x 183mm.), contemporary calf with the arms of Lasserwitz of Silesia, spine gilt in compartments, marbled edges, lacking morocco lettering-piece, spine chipped at head and foot

A German translation of the Artis magnae artilleriae pars prima (see lot 415). The first part, dealing with pyrotechnics, rockets, firework set-pieces and fire-balls, is a German translation of Siemienowicz's text by Daniel Elrich; the second part consists of Elrich's own material about the manufacture of saltpetre, powder mills and further firework set-pieces. Just the first part was translated into English by George Shelvocke in 1729 (see lot 417).

The second work contains machines devised by Ulrich von Cranach, one of which purported to show a perpetual motion machine (plate I).

LITERATURE:

VD17 39:125842X & 23:322178R

PROVENANCE:

Lasserwitz, of Silesia, arms on binding; DR, gilt paper book label; card of bibliographical notes in French loosely inserted