MEYER, Cornelis (1630-1701) - L'arte di rendere i fiumi navigabili in varij modi. Rome: Komarek, 1696. An important ...

MEYER, Cornelis (1630-1701) - L'arte di rendere i fiumi navigabili in varij modi. Rome: Komarek, 1696. An important collection of Meyer's works with a total of 124 illustrations. Of particular interest are the parts dedicated to the "secrets" in which the Dutch engineer describes a carriage capable of moving without horses and a method of raising the Trajan's Column from the ground. The title's vignette depict a "dragon" of which Meyer leads the reader to think he is in possesion of the remains. Beyond the oddities, what is certain is that Meyer worked as hydraulic engineer under Clement IX and in fact most of the illustrations are dedicated to works of hydraulics and port engineering. 5 parts in one volume, folio (400 x 260mm). Title, 66 numbered plaes, of which 3 are double-page, on 21 sheets; [WITH:] Raccolta di vari segreti come si vedono nelle seguenti figure della parte seconda; title, 26 plates, one full-page and one double page, on 7 sheets (without plate 15 mentioned in the index as in the copy in the ETH Library, of which a copy is present in the final part) [AND:] Osservazioni delle comete che dovranno seguire e dell'eclisse del primo satellite di Giove; title + 12 plates, 3 double-page and one full-page, on 5 sheets + 6 index leaf (lacking final leaf, O). [WITH:] Nuovi ritrovamenti divisi in due parti; title, dedication to Cosimo III, 20 plates in text of which 3 double-page, on 22 sheets + 4 index leaves (this part corresponds to the one at he Biblioteca Angelica). (Some spotting, restoration to bottom right corner of first title and to 8th leaf). 19th-century vellum with title on spine label, speckled edges (small losses and restorations).