HERO of Alexandria (fl. 62 AD) Gli artifitiosi et curiosi moti spiritali. Translated by Giovanni Battista Aleotti (1546-1636). Ferrara: Vittorio Baldini, 1589.
First edition of Aleotti’s translation of Hero’s Pneumatics. It is a curious mixture of the useful and amusing, combining descriptions of fire-engines and simple steam turbines with those of penny-in-the-slot machines, singing birds and sounding trumpets. Adams H-367; Mortimer, Harvard Italian, 230.
Quarto (215 x 158mm). Title within woodcut architectural border, numerous woodcut illustrations in the text, woodcut head-and tailpieces, initials, printer’s device on colophon (some faint waterstains in upper margin, without the 2ff. ‘tavola’). Early vellum, titled in manuscript on spine (faint soiling). Provenance: ‘Giacopo Morel[li]’ (early inscription recording purchase at Mantua).
HERO of Alexandria (fl. 62 AD) Gli artifitiosi et curiosi moti spiritali. Translated by Giovanni Battista Aleotti (1546-1636). Ferrara: Vittorio Baldini, 1589.
First edition of Aleotti’s translation of Hero’s Pneumatics. It is a curious mixture of the useful and amusing, combining descriptions of fire-engines and simple steam turbines with those of penny-in-the-slot machines, singing birds and sounding trumpets. Adams H-367; Mortimer, Harvard Italian, 230.
Quarto (215 x 158mm). Title within woodcut architectural border, numerous woodcut illustrations in the text, woodcut head-and tailpieces, initials, printer’s device on colophon (some faint waterstains in upper margin, without the 2ff. ‘tavola’). Early vellum, titled in manuscript on spine (faint soiling). Provenance: ‘Giacopo Morel[li]’ (early inscription recording purchase at Mantua).
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