Venise, Girolamo Porro, 1589, un volume in 4 (20 cm x 15,3 cm) relié en cartonnage bradel, tranches rouges (reliure XIXème siècle), (tout petit manque de papier à la partie inférieure du dos, mouillures pâles, quelques rousseurs), 1 titre gravé, 47pp., (1pp.), 11 BOIS GRAVES et 11 GRAVURES SUR CUIVRE dont 6 à pleine page
---- EDITION ORIGINALE de cette traduction par Bernadino BALDI du livre des Automates d'HERON D'ALEXANDRIE ---- "At Commandino's suggestion, BALDI translated the Automata of Hero of Alexandria into italian prefaced by a history of mechanics....". (DSB I, p. 419/420) ---- "The Automata of Hero of Alexandria describes two sorts of puppet shows, one moving and the other stationary ; both of them perform without being touched by human hands... The driving power in both cases was a heavy lead witht resting on a heap of millet grans which escaped through a hole. The weight was attached by a rope to an axle, and the turning of this axle brought about all the movements by means of strings and drums. Strins and drums constituted practically all the machinery ; no springs or cogwheels were used. It represents A MARVEL OF INGENUITY with very scant mechanical means". (DSB VI pp. 312/313)**7992/ARB6