LA ROCHE, L'ARISMETHIQUE, LYON, 1520, VELLUM MANUSCRIPT BOARDS

FIRST EDITION, 4to (254 x 176mm.), title printed in red and black within a woodcut border, woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials and diagrams, old binding reusing a fifteenth-century vellum manuscript, small tear to head of title-page, ink stains on n4v, lacking front flyleaf, binding slightly soiled, spine torn at head and foot

Jeronimus im Hoff (Imhoff), of Nuremberg (1468-1539), bought in Lyon on 23 March 1534, inscription on rear flyleaf in Italian; Karl Ferdinand Friedrich von Nagler (1770-1846), small stamp on verso of title-page (in 1836 his library went to); Royal Library, Berlin, ink stamp on verso of title-page; bought from Thomas-Scheler, Paris, 1997, Catalogue 15: Précurseurs et Novateurs, item 296, FF120,000 The Imhoff family of Nuremberg were one of the leading merchant families of Europe and by the later fifteenth century had branches across Europe, including in Lyon.

Tomash & Williams L5; Bechtel L-47; Hoock & Jeannin L5.1; USTC 30158; von Gültlingen, Huyon 12

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first edition of de La Roche's treatise, "the best of the early French arithmetics" (Smith), and THE FIRST PUBLISHED WORK ON ALGEBRA IN FRENCH. It was primarily based on the work of Nicolas Chuquet (late fifteenth century), La Roche's teacher, which circulated in manuscript but was not published until 1880, as well as on the works of Pacioli and Filippo Frescobaldi. La Roche was from Lyon, one the main mercantile centres of Europe. For the second edition, see lot 338. RARE. We have only been able to trace the Honeyman and Macclesfield copies at auction in recent years.