Lot 688
  • 688

WELLS, SCIOGRAPHIA, OR THE ART OF SHADOWES, LONDON, 1635, VARIANT BOUND WITH BRIGGS' LOGARITHMES (GOUDA, 1626)

Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • Sciographia, or the art of shadowes. Plainly demonstrating, out of the sphere, how to project both great and small circles, upon any plane whatsoever: with a new conceit of reflecting the sunne beames upon a diall... Together with the manner of cutting, the five regular Platonicall bodies... also the finding of their declinations, and reclinations, and adorning them with variety of dials. All performed, by the doctrine of triangles; and for ease, and delight sake by helpe of the late invented, and worthily admired numbers, called by the first inventor Logarithmes. London: Thomas Harper, 1635
FIRST EDITION (variant with 2 parts in one, see footnote), 8vo (190 x 117mm.), 13 woodcut plates, most folding, woodcut diagrams and illustrations, bound with Henry Briggs's Table des logarithmes pour les nombres d'un, à 10000 (Gouda, Pierre Rammazeyn, 1626 - see footnote), old calf, tear in B5 with old repair, last 2 leaves misbound, first plate (p.1) with binding direction cropped, rebacked retaining old spine (darkened and slightly frayed)

Provenance

Harrison D. Horblit (1912-1988), book label; bought from H.P. Kraus, New York, 1990, Catalogue 168, item 201, $2500

Literature

Tomash & Williams W27 and B254; ESTC S119762; Henderson p.63 no. 34.0; STC 25234

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

Wells wrote this book on dialling in 1622, when it was read by his friends Briggs and Gunter, who urged him to publish it, perhaps partly because it represented a useful application for their newly calculated logarithmic tables. A preface "To the Lover of the Mathematiques" was contributed by Henry Gellibrand. According to ESTC, this is a "variant" of Wells's work "issued with unsold sheets of logarithmic tables by H. Briggs and A. Vlacq, published at Gouda by P. Rammaseyn, 1626", the title of which is present here though slashed for cancellation.