(1596). BESSON (Jacques). THEATRE DES INSTRUMENS MATHEMATIQU - Lot 416

(1596). BESSON (Jacques). THEATRE DES INSTRUMENS MATHEMATIQUES ET MECHANIQUES by J. Besson, dauphinois, docte mathématicien. Lyon, (Genève) Jacques Chouët, 1596. In-folio of 64 (of 65) leaves, half brown basane, smooth spine (19th century binding). The earliest work on the subject, first published in Orléans in 1569. It is illustrated with a fine title frame and 60 full-page copper-engraved plates attributed to Jacques Androuet du Cerceau. The latter show an extraordinary variety of inventions, from a musical instrument to a pump for extinguishing fire from a distance, as well as machines for lifting burdens, emptying or raising submerged ships. The printing of the copperplates is sometimes weak, the margins of the leaves are mostly faded, the last plate is repaired with small missing parts. The introductory leaf 4 is misplaced and that of the 17th figure is missing. Average condition. (USTC, 24702, 13 copies) (Gilmont, éd. imprimées à Genève, 5642).