The Art of Metals, Barba 1674 Mining & refining of silver South America SCARCE

The Art of Metals,
In Which is Declared the Manner of Their Generation, and the Concomitants of Them.
In Two Books.
(Two parts in one)
The second book: ‘…Wherein is Taught the Common Way of Refining Silver by Quicksilver with Some New Rules Added for the Better Performance of the Same’.
By Albaro Alonso Barba (Translated by Edward, Earl of Sandwich).

Printed in London for S.Mearne in 1674.
Second edition of this translation.

Originally published in Spanish in 1640, this book is noted as being the first book on mining in the Americas and a key early work on the technique of extraction of gold, silver and copper by chemical processes.
Barba’s technique for extracting silver from ore by mixing it with salt and mercury and boiling it in a copper vessel revolutionised the process, resulting in great wealth for the Spanish monarchy and state.

This English translation by the The Earl of Sandwich was first published in 1670 as ‘The Art of Mettals’ and as with this second edition, is relatively scarce.

COLLATION: Complete. Two parts in one volume. The second part with its own title page.
(iv), 156pp, (ii), 91pp, [3].
Illustrated with one engraved plate showing various pieces of equipment used in the refining process.

BINDING: Bound in full contemporary sheepskin, professionally re-cornered and rebacked with the original spine laid down. The engraved plate mounted onto handmade paper.

CONDITION: Very slight chipping to the lower edge of the title page.
Otherwise a very clean copy of a scarce work with the text block sound and the binding in very good condition.

The book measures 16.5cm by 10.5cm.
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POSTAGE
Tracked delivery to the UK is £8.90

Tracked airmail to Europe is £13.90

Tracked airmail to the rest of the world is £23.90

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