KEPLER, CHILIAS LOGORITHMORUM, MARBURG, 1624-1625, HALF VELLUM

2 parts in one volume, 4to (190 x 148mm.), woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, woodcut diagrams, folding letterpress table, later half vellum over patterned paper boards, first title-page slightly frayed and repaired in gutter, S2-3 repaired at head, small repaired holes in S4, browned and somewhat brittle

bought from The Antiquarian Scientist, Acton, MA, 1985

Tomash & Williams K24 & K26; Caspar 74-75; Dünnhaupt p.2296 no. 45.I.1; Henderson pp.30-32 no. 7.0; VD17 23:254285W

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."

FIRST EDITIONS. "Kepler had seen John Napier's Mirifici logarithmorum canonis descriptio (1614) as early as 1617; but he did not study the new procedure carefully until by chance, the following year, he saw Napier's tables reproduced in a small book by Benjamin Ursinus. Kepler then grasped the potentialities offered by the logarithms; but lacking any description of their own construction, he re-created his own tables by a new geometrical procedure" (DSB VII, p.304).