BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
For the following we have mainly to thank Miss Kathleen Schlesinger, who has been employed many months in following up every clue, and although the results display very considerable literary activity on the part of the author, they do not by any means indicate Miss Schlesinger's labours. Agricola's works were many of them published at various times in combination, and therefore to set out the title and the publication of each work separately would involve much repetition of titles, and we consequently give the titles of the various volumes arranged according to dates. For instance, De Natura Fossilium, De Ortu et Causis, De Veteribus et Novis Metallis, De Natura eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra, and Interpretatio have always been published together, and the Latin and Italian editions of these works always include Bermannus as well. Moreover, the Latin De Re Metallica of 1657 includes all of these works.
We mark with an asterisk the titles to editions which we have been able to authenticate by various means from actual books. Those unmarked are editions which we are satisfied do exist, but the titles of which are possibly incomplete, as they are taken from library catalogues, etc. Other editions to which we find reference and of which we are not certain are noted separately in the discussion later on.[3]
*1530 (8vo):
Georgii Agricolae Medici, Bermannus sive de re Metallica.
(Froben's mark).
Basileae in aedibus Frobenianis Anno. MDXXX.
Bound with this edition is (p. 131-135), at least occasionally, Rerum metallicarum appellationes juxta vernaculam Germanorum linguam, autori Plateano.
Basileae in officina Frobeniana, Anno. MDXXX.
*1533 (8vo):
Georgii Agricolae Medici libri quinque de Mensuris et Ponderibus: in quibus plaeraque à Budaeo et Portio parum animadversa diligenter excutiuntur. Opus nunc primum in lucem aeditum.
(Wechelus's Mark).
Parisiis. Excudebat Christianus Wechelus, in vico Iacobaeo, sub scuto Basileiensi, Anno MDXXXIII.
261 pages and index of 5 pages.
*1533 (4to):
Georgii Agricolae Medici Libri quinque. De Mensuris et Ponderibus: In quibus pleraque à Budaeo et Portio parum animadversa diligenter excutiuntur.
(Froben's Mark).
Basileae ex Officina Frobeniana Anno MDXXXIII. Cum gratia et privilegio Caesareo ad sex annos.
1534 (4to):
Georgii Agricolae. Epistola ad Plateanum, cui sunt adiecta aliquot loca castigata in libris de mensuris et ponderibus nuper editis.
Froben, Basel, 1534.
*1535 (8vo):
Georgii Agricolae Medici libri V. de Mensuris et Ponderibus: in quibus pleraque à Budaeo et Portio parum animadversa diligenter excutiuntur.
(Printer's Mark).
At the end of Index: Venitüs per Juan Anto. de Nicolinis de Sabio, sumptu vero et requisitione Dñi Melchionis Sessae. Anno. Dñi MDXXXV. Mense Julii. 116 folios.
On back of title page is given: Liber primus de mensuris Romanis, Secundus de mensuris Graecis, Tertius de rerum quas metimur pondere, Quartus de ponderibus Romanis, Quintus de ponderibus Graecis.
*1541 (8vo):
Georgii Agricolae Medici Bermannus sive de re metallica.
Parisiis. Apud Hieronymum Gormontiú. In Vico Jacobeo sub signotrium coronarum. 1541.
*1546 (8vo):
Georgii Agricolae medici Bermannus, sive de metallica ab accurata autoris recognitione et emendatione nunc primum editus cum nomenclatura rerum metallicarum. Eorum Lipsiae In officina Valentini Papae Anno. MDXLVI.
*1546 (folio):
Georgii Agricolae De ortu et causis subterraneorum Lib. V. De natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra Lib. IIII. De natura fossilium Lib. X. De veteribus et novis metallis, Lib. II. Bermannus sive De re Metallica dialogus. Interpretatio Germanica vocum rei metallicae addito Indice faecundissimo.
Apud Hieron Frobenium et Nicolaum Episcopium Basileae, MDXLVI. Cum privilegio Imp. Maiestatis ad quinquennium.
*1549 (8vo):
Georgii Agricolae de animantibus subterraneis Liber.
Froben, Basel, MDXLIX.
*1550 (8vo):
Di Georgio Agricola De la generatione de le cose, che sotto la terra sono, e de le cause de' loro effetti e natura, Lib. V. De La Natura di quelle cose, che de la terra scorrono Lib. IIII. De La Natura de le cose Fossili, e che sotto la terra si Cavano Lib. X. De Le Minere antiche e moderne Lib. II. Il Bermanno, ò de le cose Metallice Dialogo, Recato tutto hora dal Latino in Buona Lingua volgare.
(Vignette of Sybilla surrounded by the words)—Qv Al Piv Fermo E Il Mio Foglio È Il Mio Presaggio.
Col Privilegio del Sommo Pontefice Papa Giulio III. Et del Illustriss. Senato Veneto per anni. XX.
(Colophon). In Vinegia per Michele Tramezzino, MDL.
*1550 (folio):
Georgii Agricolae. De Mensuris et ponderibus Rom. atque Graec. lib. V. De externis mensuris et ponderibus Lib. II. Ad ea quae Andreas Alciatus denuo disputavit De Mensuris et Ponderibus brevis defensio Lib. I. De Mensuris quibus intervalla metimur Lib. I. De restituendis ponderibus atque mensuris. Lib. I. De precio metallorum et monetis. Lib. III.
Basileae. Froben. MDL. Cum privilegio Imp. Maiestatis ad quinquennium.[4]
*1556 (folio):
Georgii Agricolae De Re Metallica Libri XII. quibus Officia, Instrumenta, Machinae, ac omnia denique ad Metallicam spectantia, non modo luculentissime describuntur, sed et per effigies, suis locis insertas, adjunctis Latinis, Germanicisque appellationibus ita ob oculos ponuntur, ut clarius tradi non possint Eiusdem De Animantibus Subterraneis Liber, ab Autore recognitus: cum Indicibus diversis, quicquid in opere tractatum est, pulchre demonstrantibus.
(Froben's Mark).
Basileae MDLVI. Cum Privilegio Imperatoris in annos V. et Galliarum Regis ad Sexennium.
Folio 538 pages and preface, glossary and index amounting to 86 pages. This is the first edition of De Re Metallica. We reproduce this title-page on page [XIX].
*1557 (folio):
Vom Bergkwerck xii Bücher darinn alle Empter, Instrument, Gezeuge, unnd Alles zu disem Handel gehörig, mitt schönen figuren vorbildet, und Klärlich beschriben seindt erstlich in Lateinischer Sprach durch den Hochgelerten und weittberümpten Herrn Georgium Agricolam, Doctorn und. Bürgermeistern der Churfürstlichen statt Kempnitz, jezundt aber verteüscht durch den Achtparen. unnd Hochgelerten Herrn Philippum Bechium, Philosophen, Artzer und in der Loblichen Universitet zu Basel Professorn.
Gedruckt zu Basel durch Jeronymus Froben Und Niclausen Bischoff im 1557 Jar mitt Keiserlicher Freyheit.
*1558 (folio):
Georgii Agricolae De ortu et causis subterraneorum Lib. V. De natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra Lib. IV. De natura fossilium Lib. X. De veteribus et novis metallis Lib. II. Bermannus, sive De Re Metallica Dialogus Liber. Interpretatio Germanica vocum rei metallicae, addito duplici Indice, altero rerum, altero locorum Omnia ab ipso authore, cum haud poenitenda accessione, recens recognita.
Froben, et Episcop. Basileae MDLVIII. Cum Imp. Maiestatis renovato privilegio ad quinquennium.
270 pages and index. As the title states, this is a revised edition by the author, and as the changes are very considerable it should be the one used. The Italian translation and the 1612 Wittenberg edition, mentioned below, are taken from the 1546 edition, and are, therefore, very imperfect.
*1561 (folio):
Second edition of De Re Metallica including De Animantibus Subterraneis, with same title as the first edition except the addition, after the body of the title, of the words Atque omnibus nunc iterum ad archetypum diligenter restitutis et castigatis and the year MDLXI. 502 pages and 72 pages of glossary and index.
*1563 (folio):
Opera di Giorgio Agricola de L'arte de Metalli Partita in XII. libri, ne quali si descrivano tutte le sorti, e qualità de gli uffizii, de gli strumenti, delle macchine, e di tutte l'altre cose attenenti a cotal arte, non pure con parole chiare ma eziandio si mettano a luoghi loro le figure di dette cose, ritratte al naturale, con l'aggiunta de nomi di quelle, cotanto chiari, e spediti, che meglio non si puo desiderare, o havere.
Aggiugnesi il libro del medesimo autore, che tratta de gl' Animali di sottoterra da lui stesso corretto et riveduto. Tradotti in lingua Toscana da M. Michelangelo Florio Fiorentino.
Con l'Indice di tutte le cose piu notabili alla fine (Froben's mark) in Basilea per Hieronimo Frobenio et Nicolao Episcopio, MDLXIII.
542 pages with 6 pages of index.
*1580 (folio):
Bergwerck Buch: Darinn nicht Allain alle Empte Instrument Gezeug und alles so zu diesem Handel gehörig mit figuren vorgebildet und klärlich beschriben, etc. Durch den Hochgelehrten ... Herrn Georgium Agricolam der Artzney Doctorn und Burgermeister der Churfürstlichen Statt Kemnitz erstlich mit grossem fleyss mühe und arbeit in Latein beschriben und in zwölff Bücher abgetheilt: Nachmals aber durch den Achtbarn und auch Hochgelehrten Philippum Bechium Philosophen Artzt und in der Löblichen Universitet zu Basel Professorn mit sonderm fleyss Teutscher Nation zu gut verteutscht und an Tag geben. Allen Berckherrn Gewercken Berckmeistern Geschwornen Schichtmeistern Steigern Berckheuwern Wäschern und Schmeltzern nicht allein nützlich und dienstlich sondern auch zu wissem hochnotwendig.
Mit Römischer Keys. May Freyheit nicht nachzutrucken.
Getruckt in der Keyserlichen Reichsstatt, Franckfort am Mayn, etc. Im Jahr MDLXXX.
*1612 (12mo):
Georgii Agricolae De ortu et causis subterraneorum Lib. V. De natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra, Lib. IV. De natura fossilium Lib. X. De veteribus et novis metallis Lib. II. Bermannus, sive de re metallica Dialogus. Interpretatio Germanica vocum rei metallicae.
Addito Indice faecundissimo, Plurimos jam annos à Germanis, et externarum quoque nationum doctissimis viris, valde desiderati et expetiti.
Nunc vero in rei metallicae studiosorum gratiam recensiti, in certa capita distributi, capitum argumentis, et nonnullis scholiis marginalibus illustrati à Johanne Sigfrido Philos: et Medicinae Doctore et in illustri Julia Professore ordinario.
Accesserunt De metallicis rebus et nominibus observationes variae et eruditae, ex schedis Georgii Fabricii, quibus ea potissimum explicantur, quae Georgius Agricola praeteriit.
Wittebergae Sumptibus Zachariae Schüreri Bibliopolae Typis Andreae Rüdingeri, 1612.
There are 970 pages in the work of Agricola proper, the notes of Fabricius comprising a further 44 pages, and the index 112 pages.
*1614 (8vo):
Georgii Agricolae De Animantibus Subterraneis Liber Hactenus à multis desideratus, nunc vero in gratiam studiosorum seorsim editus, in certa capita divisus, capitum argumentis et nonnullis marginalibus exornatus à Johanne Sigfrido, Phil. & Med. Doctore, etc.
Wittebergae. Typis Meisnerianis: Impensis Zachariae. Schureri Bibliop. Anno. MDCXIV.
*1621 (folio):
Georgii Agricolae Kempnicensis Medici ac Philosophi Clariss. De Re Metallica Libri XII Quibus Officia, Instrumenta, Machinae, ac omnia denique ad metallicam spectantia, non modo Luculentissimè describuntur; sed et per effigies, suis locis insertas adjunctis Latinis, Germanicisque; appellationibus, ita ob oculos ponuntur, ut clarius tradi non possint.
Ejusdem De Animantibus Subterraneis Liber, ab Autore recognitus cum Indicibus diversis quicquid in Opere tractatum est, pulchrè demonstrantibus.
(Vignette of man at assay furnace).
Basileae Helvet. Sumptibus itemque typis chalcographicis Ludovici Regis Anno MDCXXI.
502 pages and 58 pages glossary and indices.
*1621 (folio):
Bergwerck Buch Darinnen nicht allein alle Empter Instrument Gezeug und alles so zu disem Handel gehörig mit Figuren vorgebildet und klärlich beschrieben:.... Durch den Hochgelehrten und weitberühmten Herrn Georgium Agricolam, der Artzney Doctorn und Burgermeister der Churfürstlichen Statt Kemnitz Erstlich mit grossem fleiss mühe und arbeit in Latein beschrieben und in zwölff Bücher abgetheilt: Nachmals aber durch den Achtbarn und auch Hochgelehrten Philippum Bechium. Philosophen, Artzt, und in der loblichen Universitet zu Basel Professorn mit sonderm fleiss Teutscher Nation zu gut verteutscht und an Tag geben und nun zum andern mal getruckt.
Allen Bergherrn Gewercken Bergmeistern Geschwornen Schichtmeistern Steigern Berghäwern Wäschern unnd Schmeltzern nicht allein nutzlich und dienstlich sondern auch zu wissen hochnohtwendig.
(Vignette of man at assay furnace).
Getruckt zu Basel inverlegung Ludwig Königs Im Jahr, MDCXXI.
491 pages 5 pages glossary—no index.
*1657 (folio):
Georgii Agricolae Kempnicensis Medici ac Philosophi Clariss. De Re Metallica Libri XII. Quibus Officia, instrumenta, machinae, ac omnia denique ad metallicam spectantia, non modo luculentissimè describuntur: sed et per effigies, suis locis insertas, adjunctis Latinis, Germanicisque appellationibus, ita ob oculos ponuntur, ut clarius tradi non possint. Quibus accesserunt hac ultima editione, Tractatus ejusdem argumenti, ab eodem conscripti, sequentes.
De Animantibus Subterraneis Lib. I., De Ortu et Causis Subterraneorum Lib. V., De Natura eorum quae effluunt ex Terra Lib. IV., De Natura Fossilium Lib. X., De Veteribus et Novis Metallis Lib. II., Bermannus sive de Re Metallica, Dialogus Lib. I.
Cum Indicibus diversis, quicquid in Opere tractatum est, pulchrè demonstrantibus.
(Vignette of assayer and furnace).
Basileae Sumptibus et Typis Emanuelis König. Anno MDCLVII.
Folio, 708 pages and 90 pages of glossary and indices. This is a very serviceable edition of all of Agricola's important works, and so far as we have noticed there are but few typographical errors.
*1778 (8vo):
Gespräch vom Bergwesen, wegen seiner Fürtrefflich keit aus dem Lateinischen in das Deutsche übersetzet, mit nützl. Anmerkungen erläutert. u. mit einem ganz neuen Zusatze von Zlüglicher Anstellung des Bergbaues u. von der Zugutemachung der Erze auf den Hüttenwerken versehen von Johann Gottlieb Stör.
Rotenburg a. d. Fulda, Hermstädt 1778. 180 pages.
*1806 (8vo):
Georg Agricola's Bermannus eine Einleitung in die metallurgischen Schriften desselben, übersetzt und mit Exkursionen herausgegeben von Friedrich August Schmid. Haushalts- und Befahrungs-Protokollist im Churf. vereinigten Bergamte zu St. Annaberg.
Freyberg 1806. Bey Craz und Gerlach.
*1807-12 (8vo).
Georg Agrikola's Mineralogische Schriften übersetzt und mit erläuternden Anmerkungen. Begleitet von Ernst Lehmann Bergamts-Assessor, Berg- Gegen- und Receszschreiber in Dem Königl. Sächs. Bergamte Voigtsberg der jenaischen Societät für die gesammte Mineralogie Ehrenmitgliede.
Freyberg, 1807-12. Bey Craz und Gerlach.
This German translation consists of four parts: the first being De Ortu et Causis, the second De Natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra, and the third in two volumes De Natura Fossilium, the fourth De Veteribus et Novis Metallis; with glossary and index to the four parts.
We give the following notes on other possible prints, as a great many references to the above works occur in various quarters, of date other than the above. Unless otherwise convinced it is our belief that most of these refer to the prints given above, and are due to error in giving titles or dates. It is always possible that such prints do exist and have escaped our search.
De Re Metallica. Leupold, Richter, Schmid, van der Linden, Mercklinus and Eloy give an 8vo edition of De Re Metallica without illustrations, Schweinfurt, 1607. We have found no trace of this print. Leupold, van der Linden, Richter, Schmid and Eloy mention an 8vo edition, Wittenberg, 1614. It is our belief that this refers to the 1612 Wittenberg edition of the selected works, which contains a somewhat similar title referring in reality to Bermannus, which was and is still continually confused with De Re Metallica. Ferguson mentions a German edition, Schweinfurt, 8vo, 1687. We can find no trace of this; it may refer to the 1607 Schweinfurt edition mentioned above.
De Natura Fossilium. Leupold and Gatter refer to a folio edition of 1550. This was probably an error for either the 1546 or the 1558 editions. Watt refers to an edition of 1561 combined with De Medicatis Fontibus. We find no trace of such edition, nor even that the latter work was ever actually printed. He also refers to an edition of 1614 and one of 1621, this probably being an error for the 1612 edition of the subsidiary works and the De Re Metallica of 1621. Leupold also refers to an edition of 1622, this probably being an error for 1612.
De Ortu et Causis. Albinus, Hofmann, Jacobi, Schmid, Richter, and Reuss mention an edition of 1544. This we believe to be an error in giving the date of the dedication instead of that of the publication (1546). Albinus and Ferguson give an edition of 1555, which date is, we believe, an error for 1558. Ferguson gives an edition of the Italian translation as 1559; we believe this should be 1550. Draud gives an edition of 1621; probably this should be 1612.
Bermannus. Albinus, Schmid, Reuss, Richter, and Weinart give the first edition as 1528. We have been unable to learn of any actual copy of that date, and it is our belief that the date is taken from the dedication instead of from the publication, and should be 1530. Leupold, Schmid, and Reuss give an edition by Froben in 1549; we have been unable to confirm this. Leupold also gives an edition of 1550 (folio), and Jöcher gives an edition of Geneva 1561 (folio); we have also been unable to find this, and believe the latter to be a confusion with the De Re Metallica of 1561, as it is unlikely that Bermannus would be published by itself in folio. The catalogue of the library at Siena (Vol. III., p. 78) gives Il Bermanno, Vinegia, 1550, 8vo. We have found no trace of this edition elsewhere.
De Mensuris et Ponderibus. Albinus and Schmid mention an edition of 1539, and one of 1550. The Biographie Universelle, Paris, gives one of 1553, and Leupold one of 1714, all of which we have been unable to find. An epitome of this work was published at various times, sometimes in connection with editions of Vitruvius; so far as we are aware on the following dates, 1552, 1585, 1586, 1829. There also appear extracts in relation to liquid measures in works entitled Vocabula rei numariae ponderum et mensurarum, etc. Paul Eber and Caspar Peucer, Lipsiae, 1549, and in same Wittenberg, 1552.
De Veteribus et Novis Metallis. Watt gives an edition, Basel, 1530, and Paris, 1541; we believe this is incorrect and refers to Bermannus. Reuss mentions a folio print of Basel, 1550. We consider this very unlikely.
De Natura eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra. Albinus, Hofmann, Schmid, Jacobi, Richter, Reuss, and Weinart give an edition of 1545. We believe this is again the dedication instead of the publication date (1546).
De Animantibus Subterraneis. Van der Linden gives an edition at Schweinfurt, 8vo, 1607. Although we have been unable to find a copy, this slightly confirms the possibility of an octavo edition of De Re Metallica of this date, as they were usually published together. Leupold gives assurance that he handled an octavo edition of Wittenberg, 1612, cum notis Johann Sigfridi. We think he confused this with Bermannus sive de re metallica of that date and place. Schmid, Richter, and Draud all refer to an edition similarly annotated, Leipzig, 1613, 8vo. We have no trace of it otherwise.