On the nature of metals. The first major compendium of everything associated with metalworking - from mining to finished products. First published in Latin in 1556. I ran into a curious note this morning, the first English translation was published in 1950 and was done by Herbert Clark Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover. Husband and wife team. Both engineers. Yeah - that Hoover Dam. Quite interesting lives including a stint as US President.
The Internet Archive has a digitised copy of the Hoover translation here: De Re Metalica - go there just for the illustrations. Some gorgeous work.
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