- 90
BRESSIEU, METRICES ASTRONOMICAE LIBRI QUATUOR, PARIS, 1581
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
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Description
- Metrices astronomicae libri quatuor. Haec maximam partem nova est rerum astronomicarum et geographicarum per plana sphericaque triangula dimensionis ratio, veterique impendio expeditor et compendiosior. Paris: Gilles Gourbin, 1581
FIRST EDITION, folio (334 x 220mm.), woodcut device on title, folding letterpress table, letterpress tables in the text, mostly printed in red and black, old vellum, some worming and fraying, dampstaining towards end
Provenance
Shelfmark "3775" in purple crayon on upper cover and title-page; bought from Roger Gaskell, Warboys, UK, 1996, Catalogue 14, item 8, £3000
Literature
Tomash & Williams B247; USTC 170582
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
A rare early work on trigonometry in four books, of which the first is on the astronomical (sexagesimal) calculus in general, the second on sines, tangents and secants, with a finely printed table of sines (15 pages) and of tangents (20 pages, in red and black), the last two books on plane and spherical trigonometry. It was elegantly printed for Gourbin by Pierre le Voirrier (or Voitrier), who held the office of imprimeur du roi pour les mathématiques. Bressieu studied at Geneva, Grenoble and Paris before accepting the chair of mathematics at the Collège de France in 1575. A mathematician, philosopher and humanist, he became orator to the kings of France at Rome in 1586. This is his only published scientific work.