[fl. mid-1700's]. Zeisig was a German lexicographer in Chemnitz (?). He had a collection of minerals, rocks, ores, uncut gem material and coins. He was probablly originally from Freiberg and published his works under the pseudonym "Minerophilo Freibergensi."

Biographical references: Wilson, History of Mineral Collecting, 1994: 199.

1. German, 1730 [First edition].
[In black:] Neues und Curieuses | Bergwercks= | [in red:] Lexicon, | [in black:] Worinnen nicht nur | [in red:] Alle und jede beym Bergwerck, Schmeltz=Hüt= | [in black:] ten, Brenn=Hause, Saiger=Hütten, Blau=Farben= | Mühlen, Hammerwercken &c. vorkommende Benenntingen, sondern | auch derer Materien, Gesüße, Instrumenten und Arbeits= | Arten Beschreibung enthalten, | [in red:] Alles nach dem gebräuchlichen Bergmännischen Stylo, | [in black:] so wohl aus eigener Erfahrung, als auch aus bewehrtesten Scri= | benten mit besondern Fleiß zusammen getragen | Und | [in red:] In Alphabetische Ordnung | [in black:] zu sehr bequehmen Nachschlagen gebracht, | von | [in red:] Minerophilo, | [in black:] Freibergensi. | [printer's device] | [rule] | Chemnitz, 1730. | [rule] | [in red:] bey Joh. Christoph und Joh. David Stößeln.

8°: (a)⁸ (b)⁴ A-Z⁸ 2A²; 197l.; [24] p., cols. [1]-742, [1] p., frontispiece. The frontispiece is included in both the collation and pagination sequences. Page size: 170 x 102 mm.

Contents: [2 pgs], Blank, verso frontispiece.; [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [20 pgs], "Vorrede."-signed "Minerophilo," on (a)5b; cols. [1]-742, Text.; [1 pg], "Errata."

Plates: The engraved frontispiece shows a suface mining scene with buildings and various tools. Incorporated into the scene is the text, "Berg Werck Lexicon." The plate is signed "Brühl Sc. Lips."

Very scarce. Published under the authorship of "Minerophilo Freibergensi," which on unstated reference, [Agricola Bibliography] attributes as a psuedonym for Zeisig. The Vorrede recommends this book to all those readers curious about the mining and smelting sciences. It provides the reader with an overview of the scope of the work. The author explains that various collections (including his own) were used in giving accurate descriptions of the terms, most notably with respect to minerals, rocks, ores and precious stones. He recognizes some of the objects as coming from Greek and Roman times. For mining terms he is indebted to Hertwigs Berg=Buch, as well as mine worker around Chemnitz.

The last 12 pages of the Vorrede are a poem. An early and valuable dictionary of terms used in mining, mineralogy, metallurgy, lumber trade, dyeing, and foundry works. A long descriptive definition accompanies each term, together with some entymological details and examples of usage. The work was popular and subsequently published in ever expanding volumes.

2. German, 1743 [2nd edition].
Neues und wohleingerichtetes | Mineral= | und | Bergwercks= | Lexicon, | Worinnen nicht nur | Alle und jede beym Bergwerck, Schmeltz=Hüt= | ten, Brenn=Hause, Saiger=Hütten, Blau= Farben= | Mühlen, Hammerwercken &c. vorkommende Benennungen, | sondern auch derer Materien, Gesäße, Instrumenten und Arbeits= | Arten Beschreibungen enthalten, | Alles nach der geräuchlichen Bergmännischen Mund= | Art, so wohl aus eigener Erfahrung, als auch aus den bewehr= | testen Schrifftstellern mit besondern Fleiß zusammen getragen | Und | In Alphabethische Ordnung | zu sehr bequemen Nachschlagen gebracht, | von | Minerophilo, | Freibergensi. | [rule] | Andere und vielvermehrtere Ausgabe. | [rule] | Chemnitz, 1743. | [rule] | bey Johann Christoph und Johann David Stößeln.

8°: (a)⁷ A-Z⁸ Aa-Qq⁸; 318l.; [14], [1]-621, [3] p., frontispiece. Page size: 176 x 102 mm.

Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [5 pgs], "Alte Vorrede."; [7 pgs], "Neue Vorrede."-signed "Die Verleger," Chemnitz, 1743.; [1]-621, Text.; [3 pgs], "Errata."

Plates: The engraved frontispiece shows a suface mining scene with buildings and various tools. Incorporated into the scene is the text, "Berg Werck Lexicon." The plate is signed "Brühl Sc. Lips." It is identical to the frontispiece found in the 1730 edition.

Very scarce. Published under the authorship of "Minerophilo Freibergensi," which on unstated reference, [Agricola Bibliography] attributes as a psuedonym for Zeisig. In the new forward, the publisher notes that the first edition of this work was well received, and although an update had been planned, the author had no time to spare in revising the text. Therefore, the publisher had undertaken the task, and it is thought had maintained the same quality of definitions. The text has been enlarged with the addition of more terms.

Bibliographical references: Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 144.

3. German, 1784 [3rd edition].
Neues und wohleingerichtetes | Mineral= | und | Bergwercks= | Lexicon, | worinnen nicht nur | alle und jede beym Bergwerk, Schmelz=Hütten, | Brenn=Hause, Saiger=Hütten, Blau=Farben= Mühlen, Ham= | merwerken &c. vorkommende Benennungen, sondern auch | derer Materien, Gesäße, Instrumenten und Arbeits= | Arten Beschreibungen enthalten, | alles nach der gebräuchlichen bergmännischen Mund= | Art, so wohl aus eigener Erfahrung, als auch aus den | bewehrtesten Schrifftstellern mit besonderm | Fleiß zusammen getragen, | und | in Alphabethische Ordnung | zu sehr bequemen Nachschlagen gebracht, | von | Minerophilo, | Freibergensi. | [rule] | Dritte und verbesserte Ausgabe. | [rule] | Mit Churfürstl. Sächßl. allergnädigster Freyheit. | [ornate rule] | Chemnitz, 1784. | bey Joh. Dav. Stößels Erben und Purscher.

8°: )*(⁴ A-Z⁸ Aa-Oo⁸ Pp³; 303l.; [8], [1]-598 p., frontispiece. Page size: 180 x 112 mm.

Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [6 pgs], "Vorrede."; [1]-598, Text.

Plates: The engraved frontispiece shows a suface mining scene with buildings and various tools. Incorporated into the scene is the text, "Berg Werck Lexicon." The plate is signed "Brühl Sc. Lips." It is identical to the frontispiece found in the 1730 edition.

Very scarce. Published under the authorship of "Minerophilo Freibergensi," which on unstated reference, [Agricola Bibliography] attributes as a psuedonym for Zeisig. This edition further enlarges the number of terms defined.

Bibliographical references: Agricola Bibliographie. • Partsch, Katalog der Bibliothek, 1851: no. 143.