GOLDMANN, NICOLAUS (1611-1665). Tractatus de Stylometris sive Instrumentis quibus quinque ordines architecturae. Leiden: Apud Autorem [& Apud Philippum de Cro-Y], 1662. 

A very rare and self-published work by German-Polish mathematician Nicolaus Goldmann on "Stylometris", or architectural rods, which he claims in his work to have invented. In the first part of the work Goldmann discusses the uses and advantages of using his rods for designing columns of different styles - i.e., the Tuscan, Dorian, Ionian, Roman, and Corinthian. There is also a rod that he devised for general application. The second part of the work provides illustrations of the rods and their use in design and building. Goldmann's invention was the result of years of research; initially he used wood to construct his rods, but finding that material led to inaccuracies, he elected for brass instead. The text of the work is in Latin and German in parallel columns. Quite possibly, the Bavarian National Library possesses the original physical rods in its collections. Very rare in both institutions and the market - I could not locate any copies at auction since 1961 and I could locate only one copy in institutions in North America. Tall 4to (32 x 19.5cm), [iv], 32pp., 40 plates (8 partially hand-colored). Small tear to lower margin of title-page, light damp-staining occasionally touching a few leaves and plates, a bit of occasional smudging. Bound in contemporary sprinkled calf, rubbed. Overall a splendid copy.