Leonardo da Vinci
The Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci.
London: Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd, 1980. Christie's auction catalogue of "the only manuscript notebook by Leonardo remaining in private hands. It consists of 30 pages, recto and verso, in Leonardo's own hand, "alla mancina", that is to say from right to left in mirror writing, and copiously illustrated with sketches." Introduction by Carlo Pedretti.  175 pages. 
Volume is bound in salmon paper-covered boards, with stamped black lettering to spine and front cover. Rear cover has a pictorial device stamped in gold reproducing the armorial design of the Earl of Leicester, an ostrich holding in its beak a horseshoe. The front cover has stamped gilt ruling at edges. Very faint small spot appears to the left of the Christie's logo on front cover. Book is otherwise in excellent condition, with solid binding, and clean and bright interior. A color photographic facsimile of each manuscript page is provided, with a description appearing on opposite page, including a note relating to available translations. This work has a color photograph of the volumes as frontispiece. Three pages of informational material ("News from Christie's") relating to this auction item are laid in.
Compiled about 1503, the Codex is a collection of notes on water and cosmology, expanded into related subjects such as astronomy. This manuscript includes a discussion of dams, drainage of swamps, canalization, lockgates and pile driving, as well as a celebrated passage on submarine warfare, in which Leonardo mentions safety measures that can be adopted by a man swimming, including a snorkel.