Leupold, Jacob | A fine copy of one of the first encyclopedias of technology

Leupold, Jacob

Theatrum machinaruvm. Leipzig: Printed by Christoph Zunkel and Sold by the Author and J. F. Gleditschens, 1724–1727

8 volumes (of 10) bound in 4, folio (362 x 232 mm). 447 finely engraved technological plates (some folding), title-pages printed in red and black, half-titles. Contemporary sprinkled calf, covers with gilt-ruled border and gilt armorial supralibros of Franz Ferdinand, Graf und Herr zu Sprinzenstein, spines gilt in eight compartments, ivory morocco labels in the second and third, others with intricate lozenge centerpiece and filigree cornerpieces, red and blue sprinkled edges, plain endpapers; small chips to head or tail of a couple of spines, joints and extremities a little rubbed, boards with a handful of small wormholes and half a dozen short abrasions, but a very sound, attractive set. 

One of the first encyclopedias of technology, and the most complete and the most extensively illustrated work on mechanical engineering published hitherto, with detailed discussions of hydraulic engineering, weights and measures, the art of gold and silver assaying and analysis, mathematical instruments and scientific devices such as the barometer, thermometer, and Leupold's own, ingenious calculating machine (plate IX in the Theatrum arithmetico-geometricum), and more. Leupold (1674–1727) was director of mines to the Elector of Saxony and the author of a number of works on mechanics and engineering. Each volume of his Theatrum machinarum is complete in itself. The volumes are more often found separately than together, and, indeed, Ferguson stated that he had never seen a complete set. 

This extensive and uniformly bound set contains the first editions of Leupold's Theatrum machinarum hydrotechnicarum (1724; 51 plates); Theatrum machinarum hydrotechnicarum Tomus I [–II] (1724–1725; 107 plates); Theatrum machinarum generale (1724; 71 plates); Theatrum machinarium, oder, Schau-Platz der Heb-Zeuge (1725; 56 plates); Theatrum arithmetico-geometricum (1727; 45 plates, one with a volvelle); Theatrum staticum universale: pars I[–IV] (1726; 57 plates); and Theatrum pontificiale (1726; 60 plates).

The present set is in very fresh condition and is remarkably complete: only the Theatrum machinarum molarium (1735) and Joachim Ernst Scheffler's Theatri machinarum supplementum (1739) are not present. The Theatrum staticum universale: pars I[–IV] (1726) is the true first edition, identifiable by the imprint statement: "Zufinden" instead of "Zu finden" on the title.

These volumes were bound for Count Franz-Ferdinand von Sprinzenstein (1671–1728), and remained in the family until sold as lot 138 in the auction of the Graf Sprinzenstein Library, held by Gilhofer and Ranschburg in Lucerne in 1937. 

REFERENCE:

Ferguson, Bibliography of the History of Technology, pp. 45–46; Wolf, History of Science in the Eighteenth Century, pp. 657–658; Berlin Catalogue 1786, 1787, 1788; not in Roberts & Trent

PROVENANCE:

Count Franz-Ferdinand von Sprinzenstein (supralibros)