(Born: 1535; Died: 1603) Spanish geologist & naturalist.

Qvilatador, 1572

1. Spanish, 1572 [First edition].
Qvilatador | De La Plata, Oro, Y Piedras, | Compvesto Por Ioan Arphe | de Villafañe: natural de Leõ: vezino de Valladolid. | [ornament] | ¶Impresso en Valladolid, por Alonso y Diego Fernãdez de Cor- | doua, Impressores de su Magestad. Año M.D.LXXII. | Con Privillegio.

8°: ¶⁴ A-I⁸ χ¹; 77l.; [8] p., 71 numbered leaves, [4] p., illus., tables.

Rare. This early treatise written for goldsmiths, jewelers and the like contains information for those interested in precious metals and cut gems generally. The first two sections describe methods and techniques of assaying, purifying and allowing gold and silver illustrated with several woodcuts of apparatus. Other sections contain important and reliable information on weighing, sizing and valuation of precious stones. Descriptions include magical and medicinal virtues, varieties and sources of the gemstones.

Bibliographical references: Hoover Collection: no. 54 [reproduces the title page]. • LKG: III 24. • Maffei & Rua Figuera, Bibliografía Mineral, 1871-2: 1, 43-7, no. 130a. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 215 [long description].

2. Spanish, 1598 [2nd edition].
Quilatador | De La Plata, Oro Y Pie- | dras, conforme a las leyes Reales, y | para delcaracion de ellas | [ornament] | Hecho Por Ioan De | Arphe Villafañe natural de Leon, | […5 lines of titles and memberships…] | Impresso en Madrid, en casa de Gui- | llermo Drouy, Año. 1598.

4°: [16], 244l.

Very scarce. Maffei & Figuera say this edition is less rare than the first edition. It is an enlarged book with an additional section describieng pearls and the virtues of gems.

Bibliographical references: LKG: III 24. • Maffei & Rua Figuera, Bibliografía Mineral, 1871-2: 1, 43-7, no. 130b. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 217.

3. Spanish, 1678 [3rd edition].
Qvilatoador | De Oro, Plata, | Y Piedras. | Compvesto Por Ivan De Arphe | y Villafañe, natural de Leon, Escultor de Oro, y | Plata, en las Casas Reales de la Moneda | de Segovia. Dedicado A Don Pedro De Pomar, Del | Consejo de su Magestad, en el Real de Hazienda, Tallador Mayor per- | petuo por juro de heredad' de las Reales Casas de Moneda de To- | ledo, Senor del Lugar de Miana, enel Reyno de | Aragon, &c. | Año [ornament: portrait] 1678. | Con privilegio: En Madrid. Por Antonio Francisco de Zafra | Criado de su Magestad, en su Real Bolateria. | [rule] | A costa de Doña Maria del Ribero, vinda de Bernaredo de Sierra Menegeles | Libras. Vendese en su casa en la Puerta del Sol, i laesisima de Luicina. [The last 2 lines difficult to read].

4°: π⁴ A-Z⁴ Aa-Bb⁴ Cc²; 212l.; [16], 408 p. Rare.

Bibliographical references: Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 218.

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