- 217
Galilei, Galileo
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- Il saggiatore nel quale con bilancia esquisita e giusta si ponderano le cose contenute nella libra astronomica e filosofica di Lotario Sarsi. Rome: Giacomo Mascardi, 1623
- Paper
4to (220 x 156mm.), engraved title-page and engraved portrait of Galileo, both by Villamena, engraved illustrations, contemporary Roman limp vellum gilt, probably by the Soresini bindery, arms of Cardinal Hohenzollern on covers, gilt edges, occasional browning or light spotting, upper hinge broken, lacking front flyleaf and pastedown, lacking two pairs of ties, a few small areas of loss on binding
Provenance
Cardinal Eitel Friedrich Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1582-1625), bishop of Olmütz and Osnabrück, arms on binding (he took part in the conclave in 1623 which elected Urban VIII, the dedicatee of this work); Ex Nicolao Ungaro bibliotheca, bookplate; F. Casella, Napoli, remains of bookseller's label on front turn-in
Literature
Cinti 73; Norman 857; Riccardi i, 511
Condition
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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with the shorter 16-line list of errata on the final leaf. Galileo and Orazio Grassi, a Jesuit mathematician, disagreed about Grassi's work on the comets of 1618, and Il Saggiatore was one of Galileo's printed ripostes. "This was a truly masterful piece of sarcastic invective and criticism. It is still read today in Italian language classes in Italy as a fine example of the use of rhetoric devices in the Italian language" (P. Machamer, The Cambridge Companion to Galileo, 1998, p. 21).
This work is often found without some of the preliminary leaves, containing addresses to Galileo, which are present in this copy.
Legatura romana barocco 1565-1700, plate 16, shows a binding with the same cardinal's hat and armorial surround, as well as the corner-pieces of entwined tritons.