Detail map of Venezia, Veneto, Italy Overview map of Venezia, Veneto, Italy

A: Venezia, Veneto, Italy

Vannoccio Biringuccio Describes the "Fire-Using Arts, Including the First Description of Typecasting

1540
Title page of the first edition with its elaborate scientific and technologically themed woodcut border. From Smithsonian Libraries, Washington, D.C.
Image Source: library.si.edu

Title page of the first edition with its elaborate scientific and technologically themed woodcut border. From Smithsonian Libraries, Washington, D.C.

In 1540 Italian metallurgist Vannoccio Biringuccio published De re pirotechnia at Venice. De re pirotechnia was the first comprehensive treatise on the pyrotechnic or "fire-using" arts, including mining, metallurgy, applied chemistry, gunpowder, military arts and fireworks. Significantly for the history of printing, it contained the first description of type-casting.

Timeline Themes

Printing by Handpress or by Hand
Technology / Engineering
Science