Der furnembsten, notwendigsten, der gantzen Architectur angehörigen Mathematischen und Mechanischen künst, eygentlicher bericht, und vast klare, verstendliche unterrichtung, zu rechtem verstandt der lehr Vitruvij.

First edition of Ryff’s theory of architecture, based mainly on Italian sources such as those of Serlio et al. Description: 4 parts in 1 vol. Restored calf over wooden boards, sides with blind-stamped decorative ornaments and roll-tooled borders, blind-stamped date on front cover 1547, 4 raised bands. Quarto: 31 × 21 cm; (leaf size); [6], 42, 52, 47ll., [1 blank]ll., 52, 47ll., [4ll. (of 5)], 47ll., [1]ll., 9ll., [1 blank]ll., [3], 18 (of 19ll. [l.7 missing]), 12ll. With 329, some full-page, woodcuts from 301 blocks. Provenance: A letter with a manuscript ownership note, dated 1822, attached to the front pastedown. Another ownership note on the flyleaf Franz Gemer 1896. Condition: Spine and edges renewed, original boards bound in. Front and rear pastedowns renewed. Text block slightly browned throughout, with occasional light spotting (more so on the title page) and some waterstaining in the gutter and at the head. Small wormholes in the first fifth (only minor loss of text), in the last part, leaf VIII, two cuts in the paper, handwritten note by an old hand on the title page.