The book with the title `V columnae` was written by the German Hans Blum. He was an author from the sixteenth century and published this book in 1596. The book was printed in Zurich from Johan Wolffen.
The Latin title translated into English means `five columns`. It already describes very well the content of the book. The Roman numeral `V` stands for the five types of columns. The book is also structured in five chapters, each of which describes one of the five different types.
The content of the book is therefore clear. It is about the five types of columns and their description and usage. Each description is accompanied by a picture showing in detail what the text is telling the reader. With the additional illustrations, the author helps the reader to really understand the text and the architectural differences of the columns. Because all types of columns are covered in one book, one can compare them to each other in each chapter and on each topic.
When reviewing the book, I was surprised by its size and form. It is larger and taller, than I would have expected. I imagine the special height was chosen to resemble the topic of columns and their shape and height. To view each illustration, the reader has to unfold the page. This was presumably a very unusual format for a book at that time.
The author, Hans Blum, wanted to clarify the structure and design of the five columns and wrote it, so it to be used for architect and historians.