Ingenious Designs of Various Mills

...[three] hundred illustrations original: "Abriß" of all sorts of such machines original: "Machinen" together into a book, with the intention of serving posterity original: "Posteritet" one day. However, because this could not happen during his lifetime—since he always intended to add even more until he was finally overtaken by temporal death—I felt I should not neglect, now that they have come into my hands as his heir, to share them with everyone in this printed edition original: "Truck". It is my hope that all enthusiasts original: "Liebhaber"; refers to dedicated students and admirers of the mechanical arts. of this art will take pleasure in them and that everyone will be well-served by them.

Because the aforementioned three hundred pieces could not be completed all at once due to the shortness of time and other inconveniences, it was deemed best that for this fair This refers to the major trade fairs, such as those in Frankfurt or Leipzig, which were the primary venues for releasing new books in early modern Europe., fifty of these pieces, engraved in copper original: "in Kupffer gradirt"; this refers to the high-quality copperplate engraving process used for the illustrations. and brought to light, should serve as a beginning. In the future, fifty more will be completed and published through the press at each subsequent fair until the full three hundred pieces are compiled and the entire work is finished.

Among these are still some special artistic pieces and secrets Arcana Latin for "secrets"; here, it refers to specialized technical knowledge or hidden mechanical principles not commonly known., which shall also be published one after another. Furthermore, if the entire work were released all at once, it might prove too expensive for the enthusiast of such machines and arts to purchase at one time, and the work might fall into low esteem due to its high cost.

I have chosen to publish these illustrations "bare"—that is, without written explanations—not only because that is how I found them, but also because several sensible people whom I consulted for advice held such text to be unnecessary. They considered that little service is done for the ignorant scoffers by providing text, while the sensible person, who desires to reflect upon these matters, requires no extensive explanation. This is because the drawings are all so orderly and clear that one can immediately see and understand the beginning, process, and effect of each machine. I have allowed myself to follow their judgment, hoping that I have thereby fulfilled the intentions of my honorable grandfather Jacobus de Strada (1507–1588), the renowned polymath and antiquarian whose designs form the basis of this book. and provided pleasure to all enthusiasts.

Herewith,