De la Pirotechnia

De la Pirotechnia is considered to be the first book on metallurgy to be published in Europe. It was published, in a version of 16th century Italian, in 1540. The author was Vannoccio Biringuccio, a citizen of Siena, Italy. The second book on metallurgy, De Re Metallica, was written by Georgius Agricola, published, in Latin, in 1556.

Both books were translated into English in the 20th Century. The translation of Pirotechnia was by Cyril Stanley Smith, a senior chemist on the Manhattan Project, and Martha Teach Gnudi. Both books were illustrated with extensive, beautiful woodcuts. The translation of de la Pirotechnia has more extensive notes and footnotes.