1556 Collection (#5)

AGRICOLAs TREATISE, 1556. Title-page of the first edition of Georgius Agricola s
AGRICOLAs TREATISE, 1556. Title-page of the first edition of Georgius Agricolas treatise on mining and metallurgy, De Re Metallica, 1556

AGRICOLA: WATER PUMP, 1556. The operation of a water-powered pump in an old mine. Woodcut from a 1580 edition of Georgius Agricolas De Re Metallica, after a woodcut from the first edition

ADORATION OF THE MAGI. The Adoration of the Magi. Tempera on canvas, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1556-62

COMET, 1556. Announcement of a comet and two earthquakes at Rossanna, Italy, and Constantinople on 5 March 1556. Contemporary German woodcut broadside by Hermann Gall

NAVIGATION STUDENT, 1556. The Student of Navigation. Woodcut from Martin Cortes Breve Compendio de la Sphera, Seville, 1556

NEW WORLD MAP, 1556. Map of Giovanni Battista Ramusios depiction of North and South America. Woodcut, 1556

AGRICOLA: MINE, 1556. Cross-section of a mine showing shafts and tunnels. Woodcut from Georgius Agricolas De Re Metallica

SALT MINING, 1556. The production of salt in a salt marsh. Woodcut from Georgius Agricolas De Re Metallica, Basle, 1556

MINING, 1556. Men working in mining shafts and tunnels. Woodcut from Georgius Agricolas De Re Metallica, Basle, 1556

MINING, 16th CENTURY. Mining in 16th century Europe. One worker is trying his luck with a divining rod. Woodcut from a 1580 edition of Georgius Agricolas De Re Metallica

IROQUOIS VILLAGE, 1556. The first printed plan of a North American settlement, showing the fortified Iroquois Native American village of Hochelaga, near Monte Real (present-day Montreal, Canada)

Plan of Tenochtitlan (City of Mexico) at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Woodcut, 1556
PLAN OF TENOCHTITLAN, 1556. Plan of Tenochtitlan (City of Mexico) at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Woodcut, 1556

operated by horse and manpower. Woodcut from Georgius Agricolas treatise De Re Metallica, 1556
MINE VENTILATION SYSTEM operated by horse and manpower. Woodcut from Georgius Agricolas treatise De Re Metallica, 1556

Roasting copper in a furnace: C. A: cakes of smelted copper, B: wooden faggots for heat. On right man is using wooden wheelbarrow. From Agricola (George Bauer) De re metallica, Basle, 1556

Lead smelting. From Agricola De re metallica, Basel 1556. Woodcut

Stamp for breaking copper cupellation cakes for further refining, powered by water wheel through drive shaft. From Agricola De re matallica, Basle, 1556. Woodcut

Blast furnace for smelting iron ore. From Agricola De re Metallica, Basle, 1556. Woodcut

Rag-and-chain pump for draining a mine operated by men in treadmill. From Agricola (George Bauer) De re metallica, Basle, 1556

Evaporating pots of brine in a natural hot spring in order to obtain salt. From Agricola De re metallica, Basel 1556. Woodcut

Separating lead from silver or gold in a cupellation furnace. From Agricola (Georg Bauer) De re metallica, Basel 1556. The Foreman consumed quantities of butter to avoid being poisoned

Miners hammers of various sizes. From Agricola (George Bauer) De re metallica, Basle, 1556

Mounted Muscovite warriors equipped with bows and arrow, swords and quilted armour. Woodcut 1556

Stamping and roasting ore to extract metal (lead copper, silver and gold treated in this way). Mill powered by water wheel

Smelting of ores (gold, silver, copper and lead). Workman beats clay to make lute to line furnace. On floor are various tools needed during process. From Agricola De re metallica, Basel 1556

Mine being drained by a rag-and-chain pump powered by overshot water wheel. At right is detail of section of pipe K. From Agricola De re metallica, Basle, 1556

Evaporating sea water in iron pots to obtain salt. Straw being used as fuel. From Agricola De re metallica, Basel, 1556. Woodcut

Philip II (May 21, 1527 - September 13, 1598) King of Spain from 1556 until 1598. Index Librorum Prohibitorum. 1570. List of banned books published by the Spanish Inquisition

Producing salt by evaporating natural brine by pouring it into a pit of burning charcoal. A rather impure product resulted. From Agricola De re metallica, Basel, 1556. Woodcut

Argonauts finding the Golden Fleece, a fleece placed in a spring by the Colchians to collect alluvial gold dust. From Agricola De re metallica, Basle, 1556. Woodcut

Alessandro Farnese, 3rd Duke of Parma (1546-1592). Nephew of Philip II (1527-1598) king of Spain from 1556. Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands from 1578

Philip II (1527-98) King of Spain (1556). Son of Emperor Charles V (1500-1558), husband of Mary I (1518-1558) queen of England from 1553

Bellows operated by camshaft powered by water wheel. (just visible at extreme right) supplying draught to a smelting furnace

Refining copper: removing cakes of copper from the crucible and quenching in a tub of water. From Agricola De re metallica, Basle, 1556. Woodcut

Steel production: Forge, A with bellows to produce draught. Foreground bars are being hammered with mechanical hammer. Power source (probably water) out of picture on left

Sectional view of German mine showing method of sinking shafts and driving horizontal galleries. Windlass at B, C used to raise and lower men, materials and spoil

Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor 1503 - 1564. Central European monarch from the House of Habsburg. Archduke of Ruled the Austrian Hapsburg possessions as Archduke of Austria

Diana and Actaeon 1556 - 1559 by Titian

Charles V depicted on a gold coin. (Carlos I, Carlos V or Carlos I de Espana), 1500 - 1558)ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Carlos I of Spain

Nicocolo Fontana Tartaglia (1499-1557) Italian mathematician and engineer. Title page from the first part of his General trattato di numeri et misure (Venice, 1556)

Furnace for refining copper with all the tools necessary to carry out the process. From De re metallica, by Agricola, pseudonym of Georg Bauer (Basle, 1556). Woodcut

A set of 24 touch needles. These were made of the purest obtainable gold and each was alloyed with different known amounts of silver and copper, or of both

Crane for lifting of copper / lead alloy from moulds. From De re metallica, by Agricola
Crane for lifting of copper/lead alloy from moulds. From De re metallica, by Agricola, pseudonym of Georg Bauer (Basle, 1556). Woodcut

Refining copper in a furnace. In the foreground a coating of copper is being hammered off an iron bar. This was a method of testing to see if the metal was sufficiently refined

Mine ventilation. Hollow wooden drum, top, which had two blowholes opposite each other on the circumference, C, one to suck in air and one to expel it as the drum rotated

A rag-and-chain pump powered by an overshot water wheel being used to drain a mine. On the right is a detail of the tube of the pump

Mine drainage. Man in centre left of picture is boring lengths of wood with borers and augers to form pipes. Man on centre right is working the piston rod of a suction pump to raise water from a

Draining mine workings with a bank of three suction pumps. As the men turn the shaft the cams, B, connect with tappets. A, on the piston rods, C

Three devices for ventilating mines with bellows. In the centre the horse turns the wheel and cams, I, I, work the bellows

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"1556: A Glimpse into the Vibrant Tapestry of History" Step back in time to Tenochtitlan, known today as Mexico City, during the Spanish Conquest. This colored woodcut from 1556 transports us to a moment of cultural collision and transformation. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Thomas Cranmer plays a pivotal role in shaping religious reforms during the tumultuous era. His influence echoes through centuries as we examine his portrait amidst an Egyptian palm tree depicted in a stunning 16th-century artwork. Philip II of Spain, adorned with fursten regalia, stands tall as he navigates the complex web of politics and power that defined his reign. Loyola's presence is felt too; his legacy immortalized in Butler Lives while captured praying fervently by Holl. Johannes Forster's brush strokes bring forth an allegory depicting Emperor Charles V's Holy Roman Empire - a testament to both grandeur and complexity. De Brij further unveils Forster's talent with their engraving showcasing The Water Torture – a haunting reminder of darker times. Amidst this rich tapestry emerges St Ignatius Loyola himself, whose unwavering faith guided him through trials and tribulations. His indomitable spirit serves as an inspiration for generations to come. As we delve into these historical fragments from 1556, let us marvel at how they intertwine to form our collective narrative – one that continues to shape our present and future.