OUGHTRED, ARITHMETICAE IN NUMERIS ET SPECIEBUS INSTITUTIO, LONDON, 1631

FIRST EDITION, 8vo (168 x 102mm.), woodcut diagrams, old vellum, modern red morocco label

Thomas Miller Rickman (1827-1912), quantity surveyor and architect, past president of the Surveyor's Institution, signature; The Surveyor's Institution (London), presentation bookplate from Rickman, 1908; Harrison D. Horblit (1912-1988), book label; H.P. Kraus, New York, Catalogue 168, item 118, $4000; bought from Pickering & Chatto, London, 1993

Tomash & Williams O34; ESTC S110220; STC 18898; Norman 1621

the condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description, if 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."

"This work, [Oughtred's first and] perhaps his most important, is better known as Clavis mathematicae, the title adopted for later editions (and used as a running head on each page of this one). Oughtred began to write it around 1628 when he was employed by the Earl of Arundel to instruct his son (Lord William Howard, afterward Viscount Stafford) in mathematics. He wrote this treatise as a text for the young man to use and a few years later was asked to publish it by one of his pupil's relatives (Charles Cavendish). Despite its small size, it contained all the elements of arithmetic and algebra then known. It was in this work that Oughtred introduced several mathematical symbols (the "x" for multiplication and "::" for proportion) still in use today. He also gave many examples of the use of decimal fractions" (Tomash & Williams).