- 449
NAPIER, RABDOLOGIAE, SEU NUMERATIONIS PER VIRGULAS LIBRI DUO, EDINBURGH, 1617
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- Rabdologiae, seu numerationis per virgulas libri duo: cum appendice de expeditis-simo (sic) [&c.]. Edinburgh: Andrew Hart, 1617
FIRST EDITION, 12mo (143 x 75mm.), 4 folding engraved plates, engraved and woodcut illustrations, with final blank leaf, contemporary vellum, lettered in ink on upper cover and spine, modern folding cloth box, 2 small holes in spine
Provenance
bought from Carlo Alberto Chiesa, Milan, 1986
Literature
Tomash & Williams N7; ESTC S113120; STC 18357; Dibner, Heralds of Science, 107; Macdonald, Napier, p.131; Norman 1574; Origins of Cyberspace 11; USTC 3007428
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."
"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
A VERY GOOD COPY. The work contains the first description of a mechanical calculating device other than the abacus. In addition to describing the construction and use of Napier's "bones" or rods, it includes two other calculators of his invention: the Promptuary, an example of which was recently identified in the collections of a Madrid museum, and the "chessboard abacus" which, like modern computing machines, is based on the binary number system.