202 - Zeising, H. Theatrum machinarum ... in which various artificial machines can be seen in different copperplate engravings, through which any heavy load can be moved, lifted, pulled, and led with advantage ... 6 parts in 1 volume. Leipzig, Grosse, 1613-58. With 5 engraved title pages with marginal figures (1 with mounted typographic text elements), 1 engraved title border and 144 (of 148; 18 folded) engraved plates. Oblong small quarto. Contemporary parchment binding (somewhat stained, clasps missing).

Zeising, H. Theatrum machinarum ... in which various artificial machines can be seen in different copperplate engravings, through which any heavy load can be moved, lifted, pulled, and led with advantage ... 6 parts in 1 volume. Leipzig, Grosse, 1613-58. With 5 engraved title pages with marginal figures (1 with mounted typographic text elements), 1 engraved title border and 144 (of 148; 18 folded) engraved plates. Oblong small quarto. Contemporary parchment binding (somewhat stained, clasps missing). German Museum, Libri rari, page 309; Graesse VII, 509; Ornament engraving collection Berlin 1773. - Mixed edition. - The first German machine book appeared at the beginning of the 17th century in six parts. - 'The work is based on Besson, Ramelli and Zonca, from whom a considerable part of the illustrations are adopted in reduced form.' Many of the inventions and machines presented there only became known in Germany through Zeising... Of the approximately 128 machine illustrations, only about a quarter are by Zeising himself. In contrast to the classics of machine literature, Zeising devotes considerably more space to the explanatory texts... He can therefore, not entirely without justification, be regarded primarily as a popularizer of machine technology (Hilz: Theatrum machinarum, p. 78). - With early illustrations of the fire engine with two pump cylinders, water-lifting machines with piston pumps, oil mill with wedge press, wood sawmill, grinding mill with waterwheel drive, printing press, etc. - Without plates 5-7 and 9 in Part V. - Part VI without the appendix on musical instruments, which was probably no longer included in later editions. - Somewhat browned, one large and a few small tears restored.