Archimedes

2 parts in one volume, folio (290 x 196mm.), woodcut Aldine device on title-pages and verso of final leaf of part one, historiated woodcut initials, woodcut diagrams, nineteenth-century olive morocco gilt, arms gilt on covers, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges, lacking last leaf of second part (containing device only), joints very slightly rubbed

Sir Thomas Knyvett, inscriptions on title-page (D. McKitterick, The Library of Sir Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe c. 1539-1618, 1978, library catalogue number 778)
Entry from a sale catalogue pasted to rear flyleaf, lot 728
Henry J.B. Clements (1869-1940), Killadoon, Ireland, armorial bookplate and arms on binding, sale in these rooms, 5 July 1966, lot 414 (part of a substantial collection of Aldines), returned by Maggs as incomplete (letter enclosed)

Henry Clements amassed a substantial collection of British armorial bookbindings about which he published several articles; his collection was bequeathed to the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Censimento 16 CNCE 2318; IA 106.870; Renouard 173/3; Riccardi i, 42; Smith, Rara arithmetica 228; Texas 396; UCLA 540

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."

A CLEAN CRISP COPY. This is the first of Commandino's many translations of important Greek mathematical texts into Latin; as well as the published versions of the Greek text and an earlier Latin translation (both published in Basel in 1544), Commandino was also able to borrow (thanks to his patron, Cardinal Ranuccio Farnese, the dedicatee of this book) a Greek manuscript from the library of Cardinal Bessarion in order to correct the text.