Lot 39
  • 39

BAKER, THE WEL SPRING OF SCIENCES, LONDON, 1591

Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
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Description

  • The wel spring of sciences. Which teacheth the perfect worke and practise of arithmeticke, both in whole numbers and fractions... also added certain tables of the agreement of measures and waights of diverse places of Europe. London: Thomas Purfoote, 1591
Small 8vo (132 x 84mm.), black letter, title within typographic border, large woodcut of Lucretia on colophon leaf, with final blank leaf, modern red morocco gilt, lacking A1 (blank?), modern pencil calculations in margins of some leaves, a few older notes in ink (e.g. f.53v and f.57v); sold with another copy (see footnote)

Provenance

Charles Turner (1886-1973), his bequest in 1968 to Keele University, book label (deaccessioned in 1998); bought from Simon Finch, London, 2002

Literature

Tomash & Williams, B80; ESTC S114379; STC 1213; Hill, Turner Collection, p.9 (this copy); Hoock & Jeannin B1.8; cf. Kress (supplement) S-114 (1607 edition)

Condition

the condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description
"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

This work was first published in 1562 and again on a number of occasions during the sixteenth century. The second half of the book deals with commercial matters. This lot is sold with another poor copy of the work with title-page dated 1580 (possibly a facsimile and probably substituted for that of 1583), which lacks leaf T2 (ex-Sotheby's, 28-29 July 1994, lot 494, where bought by Erwin Tomash, [T&W B79]).