Mineralogy. GIMMA. Della storia naturale delle gemme, delle pietre, e di tutti i minerali, ovvero della fisica sotterranea [..]

GIMMA, Giacinto. Della storia naturale delle gemme, delle pietre, e di tutti i minerali, ovvero della fisica sotterranea di Giacinto Gimma ... in cui delle gemme, e delle pietre stesse si spiegano la nobilta, i nomi, i colori, le spezie, i luoghi, la figura, la generazione, la grandezza, la durezza, la madrice, l'uso, le virtu, le favole.

Napoli, nella stamperia di Gennaro Muzio, erede di Michele Luigi: a spese dello stesso Muzio, e di Felice Mosca, 1730

First and only edition. An extremely rare and highly sought-after work. Sinkankas: “This encyclopedic work is important for its summary of everything worth knowing at that time concerning gemstones and many mineral substances … This magnificent work is valuable for its comparison of statements made by many authorities and the inclusion of the author’s own views, not to mention the sheer quantity of information provided by the text. It deserves to be translated.” This substantial treatise is a “summa” of the mineralogical and geological knowledge of the era. Gimma also addresses crystallography, paleontology, volcanology, chemistry, and botany, but he also discusses the economic value of gemstones, providing details on color, luminescence, properties, prices, fraud, and stones of lesser value: he uses chemistry to study rocks, fossils, and minerals, in search of the morphogenetic principle that governs the organization of living beings, ultimately aiming to construct a unified, comprehensive system. Among the topics covered in the author’s various “excursions” are the magic lantern, the magnet, tobacco, fragrant essences, marble, mosaics, the philosopher’s stone, petroleum, meteorites, etc. 

Starting on page 545 of the second volume is the Index with 1,020 entries. 

Adams, Geol. Sciences, p. 5; H. Emanuel, "Diamonds and Precious Stones", London, 1867, p. 272; Pretti, in *DBI*, 54, Rome, 2000, pp. 768-774, Sinkankas 2396.

Two volumes in quarto. 235x172 mm. Contemporary calf binding with ruled edges on the covers, gilt decorations and gilt title on a double label on the spine; blue-sprayed edges. Pages [48], 551, 1 blank; [4], 603, 1 blank. Text in two columns, with woodcut headpiece, tailpieces, and ornate initials. Beautiful copper-engraved frontispiece engraved by Antonio Baldi; copper-engraved vignette on page 336 of volume 1. Spine restored; browning and foxing.