Leupold, Jacob

Theatrum Pontificiale Oder Schau-Platz, der Brucken und Brucken-Baues:...(Technology and Engineering) [full title in description]

Leipzig: Christoph Zunkel, for the author, 1726. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #45427

[Theatrum Pontificiale Oder Schau-Platz, der Brucken und Brucken-Baues : das ist: Eine deutliche Anweisung, Wie man nicht nur auf mancherley Arth uber Graeben, Baeche und Fluesse gelangen, auch so gar in Wassers-Noth mit gewissen Machinen und besondern Habit sein Leben retten kan, ferner nach aller Begebenheit und Zufaellen, bequeme und bestaendige Bruecken, so wohl hoeltzerne auf Jochen oder steinern Pfeilen, als ohne dieselben mit Heng- und Spreng-Wercken, ingleichen gantz steinerne nach der Kunst mit Vortheil und Bestand zu erbauen : dan nauch wie vielerlen Urthen von Fahren, Fliegenden, Sturm-Feld und vergleichen Bruden, anqugeben; Alles mit vielen Srempeln und denen vornehmsten Bruchten in und ausser Deutschlandes, absonderlich aber Mit einer vollkommenen Beschreibung derer Pontons, vorgestellet und in 60. Kupffer-Platten erlautert.] First edition of the 6th book in his Theatrum Machinarum Series. Folio (10" x 15.25"). Published as an independent work, however after his death became Vol. VI of his works [10 vols total]. Paper backed boards, unlettered spine. Speckled edges. Rubricated title. [16], 153 pp., [5], 60 numbered copper plates (I-LVII, with IIA, XVIA, XLA). Woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Plate XXII depicts the London Bridge. First three plates are picturesque images of equipment needed for working in and on the river. Wear to extremities, rubbing and foxing to boards. Small chip to fore edge of p. 76. Small perforations and some staining to gutter of plates LVI and LVII, illustration not affected. Ink smudges to top margin of pp. 100-101, text not affected. Some offsetting from text throughout, otherwise remarkably clean with little foxing. Bookplate of Mark Edward Andrews loosely inserted. Jacob Leupold [1674-1727] was a German physicist, mathematician, instrument maker and engineer who was credited as an early inventor of the air pump. Leupold started his work on the Theatrum Machinarum in 1720, which was the first systematic analysis of mechanical engineering. This volume deals with bridge construction and was the first book on bridge building published in Germany. The first major treatise on bridge building was by French engineer Hubert Gautier, Traité des Ponts (1716), which was the standard book for bridge building for 70 years [Britannica]. Leupold builds on this work with a more comprehensive treatment, including increased explanation of long-span timber bridges.

Price (CAD): $2,500.00