Contains early report on gold washing and mining in North and South America

BRÜCKMANN, Franz Ernst.

Magnalia Dei in locis subterraneis oder Unterirdischer Schatz-Cammer aller Königreiche und Länder, in ausführlicher Beschreibung aller, mehr als MDC. Bergwercke durch alle vier Welt-Theile ... Nebst Anmerckung aller der jenigen Länder und Oerter, wo Edelsteine zu finden. Three parts in two volumes.

Braunschweig and Wolfenbüttel: Privately printed, 1727.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002643

Three parts in two volumes. Privately printed: Braunschweig 1727 and Wolfenbüttel 1730-1734. Folio (335 x 212 mm). [10], 368, [18]; [22], 1136 (i.e. 1138), [24]; [4], 64 pp. Titles printed in red and black, dedication leaves, list of subscribers in part 2, engraved portrait frontispiece, engraved device on title-pages, 53 plates (40 folding). Contemporary vellum and new vellum (vol. II newly bound), blue- and red coloured edges. Scattered very light to heavy spotting of text and light browning of text and plates of vol. II, about 30 leaves in vol. I with wormtrace in the upper blank margin, plates in vol. I trimmed close at head just into image of plate I and II and touching borders of 3 other plates. Altogether very good set. ----

Hoover Coll. 181; Ward & Carozzi 354; Honeyman, 515; Duveen 57; Roller/Goodman I, 175. - FIRST EDITION, complete as here exceedingly rare, of the first compendium of the mining of the world, compiled after sources by Agricola, Münser et al. None of the Honeyman, Freilich or Macclesfield copies comprised all three parts. As normal, there is no plate 11 in the second part. "Important work on mineralogy and mining; it contains two extensive sections on the mines of North and South America, with an early reference to the discovery of gold in California. Brückmann has written this work based on studies in the mining regions of Germany and Hungary and a rich knowledge of the entire mining literature. He treats the mines of all European countries, as well as Africa, Asia and America (e.g. gold washing, silver mines in Potosi, each with ills.). There are also short sections on Brazilian mines in both volumes. The supplement exclusively treats Swedish mining. Beside minerals, the plates show numerous plans of mines as well as views of mining towns in the Hartz region (e.g. Goslar, Sankt Andreasberg, Claustal etc).
Franz Brückmann practised medicine in Weferlingen while also devoting himself to his interests in the natural sciences. He then moved his practice to Braunschweig and later came into a considerable inheritance, after which he travelled and became interested in minerals, fossils, and geology. In 1725 he returned to Braunschweig and from 1728 on he lived in Wolfenbüttel where his association with the Duke of Brunswick additionally afforded him the opportunity to practice medicine and author many scientific books and articles on the natural sciences.
Das erste Kompendium aller Bergwerke der Welt nach den bei Agricola und Münster aufgeführen Verzeichnissen. Aufwendig auf eigene Kosten gedruckte und reich illustrierte Publikation des Braunschweiger Arztes und Naturforschers. "Brückmann hat dieses Werk auf Grund von Studien in den Bergwerksgegenden Deutschlands und Ungarns und reicher Kenntnisse der gesamten Literatur geschrieben" (Koch).
Behandelt die Gruben und Minen aller europäischer Länder sowie Afrika, Asien und Amerika. Das Supplement behandelt den schwedischen Bergbau. - Die Tafeln zeigen Mineralien, Grubenpläne sowie Ansichten von Bergwerken in Goslar, Rammelsberg, Falun, Potosi u.a.m. - Die Tafeln mit Mineralien, zahlr. Grubenplänen sowie Ansichten von Bergbaustädten (Goslar, Rammelsberg, S. Andreasberg, Claustal u. a.), ferner mit einer Förderanlage in Falun, Indianern beim Goldwaschen in Florida und einem Silberbergwerk in Potosi/Peru. - Tl. II wie in sämtl. Vergleichsexemplaren ohne die Tafel Nr. XI, die wie beschrieben auf S. 254 die erste Hälfte des Risses von Zacharias Koch (gest. von Daniel Lindemeier) zu Clausthal und Zellerfeld zeigen sollte. Taf. XII stellt den 2. Teil des Risses dar (das Original ist zu finden im Rissarchiv des Oberbergamts Clausthal-Zellerfeld).

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