A rare and beautiful work on classical automata. The rare first printed edition of the 'only extant treatise on the design and construction of ancient automata' by 'one of the most well-known technical and mathematical writers of antiquity... of particular importance for our understanding of both the history of science and technology and Hellenistic and Imperial entertainment culture' (Grillo, 'Hero of Alexander's Automata', University of Glasgow PhD thesis, p. v). This edition, the Italian translation by mathematician Bernardino Baldi, has been described as 'bella e rara' (Riccardi I, 67), and also includes explanatory notes, illustrations based on the manuscript diagrams, and a prolegomenon tracing the history of automata making, the Discorso di chi traduce sopra le macchine se moventi (A4r) (Grillo).

The first century engineer Heron (or Hero) of Alexandria was 'the greatest experimentalist of antiquity', and many of his inventions and theories were 'centuries ahead of their time' (Abbott, Biographical Dictionary of Scientists). Among then were a variety of pneumatic devices; the aeolipile, which demonstrated the force of steam generated in a closed chamber; sophisticated theories on the compression and expansion of air that explained suction and related phenomena; tables of dimensions for constructing arches and drilling tunnels and wells; and gear systems for lifting great weights. 'His work entitled Mechanics contains the parallelogram of velocity, the laws of levers, the mysteries of motion on an inclined plane and the effects of friction, and much data on gears and the positions of the centers of gravity of various objects' (Abbott).

The text of Automata is divided into two parts, on stationary and mobile automata, both of which are powered by falling counterweights. The mobile automata is a shrine of Dinoysus which moves forward and then begins a display in which milk and wine flow from the staff and cup Bacchus holds, alters self-ignite, baccante dance in a circle, and the figures of Bacchus and Nike move 180 degrees relative to each other. The stationary automata is a form of stage play presenting the myth of Nauplius in five animated scenes. Portions of the text are based on the work of the earlier author Philo, and may be the only surviving record of his work on automata. Heron's text was 'of crucial importance for Renaissance designers' and 'finds strong echoes... in late Renaissance stage machinery' (Steadman, Renaissance Fun, p. 111).

First printed edition; 2 parts in one vol., 4to (20.9 x 15.4 cm); title within elaborate engraved architectural border, woodcut headpieces, tailpieces and initials, 11 engravings, of which 6 are full page, woodcut diagrams to text, very light spotting and soiling to margins, short closed tear to B2; contemporary limp vellum, manuscript lettering to spine, some soiling to boards, light wear to extremities, purple edges, overall a very good copy; collation: A4-M4 (M4 blank).

USTC 835654; Adams H-368; Gamba 1384; Mortimer Italian 231; Riccardi I, 67; Tomash & Williams, The Erwin Tomash Library on the History of Computing, H119.