PLATTES, Gabriel

A DISCOVERY OF SUBTERRANEALL TREASURE, VIZ. OF ALL MANNER OF MINES AND MINERALLS, FROM THE GOLD TO THE COALE

      London: J. Okes, for Jasper Emery, 1639. First Edition. Modern boards. Very Good or better copy of this genuinely scarce book. ...with plaine Directions and Rules for the finding of them in all Kingdomes and Countries. And also the Art of Melting, Refining, and Assaying of them.... Whereunto is added a reall Experiment whereby every ignorant man may presently try whether any peece of Gold that shal come to his hands be true or conterfeit.... Also a perfect way to try what colour any Berry, Leafe, Flower, Stalke, Root, Fruit, Seed, Barke, or Wood will give: with a perfect way to make Colours that they shall not stayne nor fade like ordinary Colours." Small quarto (4-7/8" x 7") in modern plain green boards with a morocco spine label. x, 60 pages. THE FIRST ENGLISH WORK ON MINING AND METALLURGY and the first to describe the process of separating silver and gold by nitric acid. Chapters cover locating, smelting, and refining various minerals, with mention of Peru and "the new plantations, as New England, Virginia, Bermudas, etc." Plattes states the partly alchemical nature of gold while denying theories of transmutation and gives his method for detecting counterfeit gold. The next to last chapter is devoted to coal, and the final chapter is concerned with color dyeing and the extraction of fast dyes from vegetable sources, with several recipes given. Plattes also wrote another "book of secrets" having to do with husbandry which is much less significant historically. Trimmed close affecting the tops of some words/numbers including the title page. Last text page soiled with two words obscured. Fore-edge of boards bumped.