HEVELIUS, JOHANNIS. PRODROMUS ASTRONOMIÆ, EXHIBENS... NOVAS & CORRECTIORES TABULAS SOLARES...DANZIG: 1690

Folio (381 x 232 mm). 2 double-page engraved frontispieces, engraved and woodcut initials and headpieces, engraved portrait of Hevelius, engraved plate following L2, woodcut and engraved diagrams, 56 double-page engraved plates, exquisite later hand coloring; repair to title, occasional spotting and browning, expert marginal repairs to preliminary frontispiece, repaired closed marginal tears (H4, O2), text amendment of 3 characters pasted to Y2, marginal repairs (Aa4, Ee4), primarily marginal closed tear to Ff4 just affecting two characters.  Later full velum, covers and spine ruled in blind, with decorative cornerpieces and central filigree ornaments in blind, edges speckled red.   

Houzeau & Lancaster 12781; STC German XVIIc. H1022

FIRST EDITION, published posthumously, with an introduction by Hevelius' widow Elisabeth. The manuscript of Prodromus astronomiae was one of the few items saved from the fire at Hevelius' house in 1679.