FRATTA ET MONTALBANO, Marco della.
(1635 – 1695)
¶MONTALBANI (the marquis Marc-Marc-Antoine), wire of the precedent, had been born in 1630.¶It was pursued the study of mineralogy particularly, and traversed as a naturalist the countries of the north of Europe.¶The king of Poland Jean-Casimir accomodated it with kindness at his court, and decorated it with the title of marquis.¶Marc returned to Italy, rich person of much of new knowledge;¶and after having exploited the coasts of the Adriatic, it returned to Bologna to lay out its materials and to put in order the collections which it had formed.¶It died there in 1695, at the 65 years age.¶There is of him 1 Catascopia minerale, overo esplanazione E modo di far saggio of ogni will minira metallica, Bologna, 167 6, in-4;¶20 Pratica minerale, ibid, 1678, in-4;¶30 acque Belazione dell' minerale LED regno of Ungaria, Venice, 1687, in-4.¶Orlandi still allots to him:¶ Di Ferdinando quoted.¶¶MONTALBANI (le marquis Marc-Antoine), fils du précédent, était né en 1630. ¶Il s'attacha particulièrement à l'étude de la minéralogie, et parcourut en naturaliste les pays du nord de l'Europe. ¶Le roi de Pologne Jean-Casimir l'accueillit avec bonté à sa cour, et le décora du titre de marquis. ¶Marc rentra en Italie, riche de beaucoup de connaissances nouvelles; ¶et après avoir exploité les côtes de l'Adriatique, il revint à Bologne disposer ses matériaux et mettre en ordre les collections qu'il avait formées. ¶Il y mourut en 1695, à l'âge de 65 ans. ¶On a de lui 1 Catascopia minerale, overo esplanazione e modo di far saggio d'ogni minira metallica, Bologne, 167 6, in-4; ¶20 Pratica minerale, ibid., 1678, in-4; ¶30 Belazione dell' acque minerale del regno d'Ungaria, Venise, 1687, in-4. ¶Orlandi lui attribue encore :¶ La cita di Ferdinando.
Biographical references: Biographie Universelle: 29, 25. • Dizionario Biografico Italiani. • Paoli, U.G., "Il Marchese Marco Antonio de la Fratta e Montalbano (1635-1695)", Archeion, 17, (1935), 353-78.
1. Italian, 1676.
Catascopia | Minerale | Ouero | Modo Di Far Saggio | D'Ogni Miniera Metalica | Trattato | Del Signor Marchese | Marco Della Fratta Montalbano | Nobile Bolognese. | Dedicato all' Eccel.za Ill.ma del Sig. Caualiere | Alvise Sagredo | Fratello del Serenissimo Doge | di Venetia. | [ornament] | In Bologna, Per li Manolessi. M. DC. LXXVI. | [rule] | Con licenza de' Superiori.
4°: π4 A-E4; 24l.; [8], 1-39, [1] p., one full-page engraving (p. 5, 4 panels showing furnace, scales, bellows, and a metal smith). Page size: 214 x 152 mm.
Contents: [2 pgs], Half title page, "Catascopia | Minerale," verso blank.; [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [3 pgs], "Eccellentiss Signore."-signed Marco della Fratta Montalbano.; [1 pg], "Lettore."; 1-39, Text, starting "Prefatione."; [1 pg], Blank.
Very rare. This book was later re-issued in 1678 as the second part of the author's Pratica Minerale which is considered to be "one of the most important of the early books on mining." (Adams).
The text consists of 13 chapters: (1) On the furnace. (2) De Copelle. (3) Dell' Ordine da tenersi nell'Operare. (4) Della Divisione dell' Ordine de' Saggi. (5) Del modo del fuoco. (6) Della Vena dell' Oro Domesica. (7) Della Vena difficile à fondersi. (8) Della Vena dell' Oro-annessa ad altre. (9) Modo di far Saggio della Vena d'Oro con l'Argento Vino. (10) Della Vena dell' Argento domestica. (11) Della Vena d'Argento difficile à fondersi. (12) Della Vena del Rame. (13) Della Vena del Piombo Vero.
Facsimile reprint, 1985: A modern edition with an introduction was published in 1985 as: Pratica Minerale ... Marco Antonio Della Fratta et Montalbano, a cura di Marco Cima. Firenze, All'insegna del giglio, [1985] (xliii, 2, 183, [6] p.).
Bibliographical references: BL [B.385.(1.)]. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 42. • Jonathan Hill, Bookseller: cat. 131 (2000), no. 36. • NUC [no copy listed]. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 420.
2. Italian, 1678.
Pratica | Minerale | Trattato | Del March. Marco Antonio Della Fratta | Et Montalbano. | All' Altezza Serenissima | Di Ranvccio Farnese | Duca di Parma, di Piacenza, &c. | [woodcut vignette featuring a coat-of-arms] | [rule] | In Bologna, Per li Manolessi. 1678. Con licenza de Superiori.
[Within an elaborate woodcut border showing 14 vingettes of activites related to mining and metallurgy:] Pratica | Minerale | Trattato | Del | March. Marco Ant.° | Della Fratta | Et Montalbano | All'Altezza Sereniss.a | Di | Ranvccio. II. | Dvca Di Parma | Di Piacenza &c.
4°: {[Cross]}6 A-Z4 2A-2E4; 117l.; [10], 183, [1] p.; [1], 39 p., illus., 28 full page plates. Added engraved title page, title vignette, ornamental initials. Page size: 220 x 160 mm.
Rare. A handsomely illustrated textbook on mining and metallurgical operations, which contains much practical information. Adams describes it has "one of the most important of the early books on mining." It is particularly strong in describing the construction and operation of smelting furnaces. Also included are observations about various minerals and metals. The author supports Agricola's views in that metals and ores did not spring spontaneously into being at the moment the world was created. The unsigned plates picture a wide variety of furnaces and related technologies.
Facsimile reprint, 1985: A modern edition with an introduction was published in 1985 as: Pratica Minerale ... Marco Antonio Della Fratta et Montalbano, a cura di Marco Cima. Firenze, All'insegna del giglio, [1985] (xliii, 2, 183, [6] p.).
Bibliographical references: Adams, Birth and Development, 1938: p. 306. • BL [444.c.3.(3.)]. • Duveen, Bibliotheca Alchemica et Chemica, 1965: p. 229 ["The plates are of very unusual quality."]. • Freilich Sale Catalog: no. 193. • Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 41. • Hoover Collection: no. 322. • NUC: 183, 470-1 [NF 0348470]. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 420. • Singer, History of Technology, 1957-9: 3, 50.
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