Recorde, Robert | The Castle of Knowledge, London, 1556, first edition of the earliest major English astronomical treatise

Recorde, Robert

The Castle of Knowledge. London: Reginalde Wolfe, 1556

First edition of the earliest major astronomical treatise to be printed in English or in England.

"Copernicus a man of greate learninge, of muche experience, and of wonderfull diligence in observation, hathe renewed the opinion of Aristarchus Samius, and affirmeth that the earthe not only moveth circularlye about his owne centre, but also may be, yea and is, continually out of the precise centre of the world 38 hundreth thousand miles: but bicause the understanding of that controversy dependeth of profounder knowledge then in this Introduction may be uttered conveniently, I will let it passe tyll some other time" (p. 165).

In this complete treatise on the construction of the sphere in dialogue form, Recorde makes what is probably the first printed, and certainly the first favorable, reference to Copernicus in English. Recorde also mentions such "parts and divers representations of the sphere" as the astrolabe, the plain sphere (planisphere), saphe, quadrant, chilindre, Ptolemy's Rulers, Tunstede's Rulers, the Albion, the torquetum, the astronomer's staff, astronomer's ring, and the so-called astronomer's ship (navicula), thus named for its shape.

This work was reissued in 1596: see lot 31.

Small folio (248 x 184 mm). Roman and italic types, woodcut title showing the Castle of Knowledge with the figures of Urania and Fortune, numerous astronomical and navigational tables, woodcut diagrams, several pentrials in an early modern hand; title-page and leaves N1 and &4 remargined at fore-edge, A6 with small repair at lower margin, final leaf inlaid without loss (but apparently in part supplied from another copy), diagram on E5 slightly cropped, some dampstaining and soiling. Modern stiff vellum, top edge gilt, leather lettering-piece, endleaves renewed.

REFERENCES

Dibner, Heralds 104; Honeyman sale 6:2590; ESTC S115662; STC 20896; Taylor, Tudo and Stuart 29

PROVENANCE

"W.N." (early modern ownership inscription to title-page) — "R.D. Combe" (nineteenth-century inkstamp to title-page) — Robert S. Dunham (acquired from F. Thomas Heller; Sotheby's New York, 11 December 1993, lot 756)