Le Machine.

first published description of a steam turbine

First edition of this key early work on engineering, containing 'the first published representation of an action-powered steam turbine' and copiously illustrated with seventy-seven woodcuts of machines (Hook & Norman, The Norman Library of Science 333).

Branca (1571-1645) was an architect and engineer employed as superintendant of works at the Basilica della Santa Casa in Loreto. His 1629 Manuale d'Architettura is considered the first 'pocket' architectural guide.

Though Leonardo had described a steam turbine in the Codex Leicester, this was not published until 1909.' It is unlikely that Branca's steam turbine was ever built, for the machine, as illustrated, would not have operated due to excessive friction and small original volume of energy. Nevertheless, Branca's illustration is of historical significance as it embodies fundamental principles of engineering' (Hook & Norman).

First edition; 4to (22 x 16.5 cm); engraved title within architectural border with figures of Archimedes and Vitruvius, 77 full-page woodcuts within the text, decorative initials, 19th-century bookplates of W.C. Mylne, near-contemporary ownership signatures and ink spots to the title, small paper repairs to title, a few short splits to the fore-edge of the title and following leaf, uneven tanning and spotting to contents; contemporary vellum, double blind fillets, remnants of old ink shelf number to spine, boards bowed, dampstain to the lower boards, short split at the head of the spine.

Dibner, Heralds of Science 175; Riccardi I 188-189; Hook & Norman, The Norman Library of Science 333.