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De Re Metallica, translation of Georgius Agricola

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Sale 829A: U.S. Presidents from the Jim Hier Collection, with Americana, Travel & Exploration, Cartography (#829A) 01/23/2025 11:00 AM PST Closed
Starts Ending 01/23/2025 11:00 AM PST

Lot #15 De Re Metallica, translation of Georgius Agricola

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Lot closed - Sold For (Includes Buyers Premium):$2,250

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

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Description

Heading:

(1929)

Title:

De Re Metallica, translation of Georgius Agricola

Author:

Hoover, Herbert; Lou Henry Hoover

Place Published:

London

Publisher:

The Mining Magazine

Date Published:

1912

Description:

[4], xxxi, [1], 640 pp. Illustrated from old woodcuts. Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1665 with Biographical Introduction, Annotations and Appendices upon the Development of Mining Methods, Metallurgical Processes, Geology, Mineralogy & Mining Law from the earliest times to the 16th Century, by Herbert Clark Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover. (Folio) 34.5x21 cm (13½x8¼"), original full vellum, spine lettered in black.

Signed and inscribed "The compliments of Herbert Hoover" on front free endpaper. Letter from the Secretary to the President to Leon Gordon mounted to front pastedown, stating that this copy has been autographed by Herbert Hoover. Envelope from the White House to Gordon and letter to Gordon from Jay Grant DeRemer notifying him of a signed copy of De Re Metallica being delivered soon laid in. The volume is the first English translation of one of the seminal early works on mining.

Lou Henry Hoover, humanitarian, Girl Scout leader, women’s athletics advocate and first lady, received a degree in Geology from Stanford University, the first woman from Stanford to achieve this. Mrs. Hoover was fluent in Mandarin, Latin, Spanish, German, Italian and French. She was a valuable co-author given her knowledge of Latin. Given that Georgius Agricola wrote de Re Metallica in the 14th century, there were no Latin words for many of the mining terms at that time. Agricola had to devise Latin words for these terms. Lou Henry Hoover, with her mastery of Latin, had the laborious task of figuring out appropriate English words for these 14th century newly minted technical Latin words. Over a five year period Mr. and Mrs. Hoover labored to produce this translation for which they received the 1914 Gold Metal from The Mining and Metallurgical Society. This achievement has no peer among any Presidential couple.

Condition:

Light wear and soiling to binding; light foxing throughout, heavier at endpapers; very good.

Item#:

371882

Headline:

De Re Metallica, signed by Hoover
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