TARTAGLIA, DE NOVA SCIENTIA. CON UNA GIONTA AL TERZO LIBRO, VENICE, NICCOLÒ BASCARINI, 1550

Small 4to (205 x 148mm.), modern red calf, gilt dentelles, new endpapers, title and C3 repaired 

Ludovico Settala (1552-1633) ink inscription on title; bought from Giampiero Zazzera studio Bibliografico, Lodi, 1990 A volume from the library of the Milanese physician, Lodovico Settala, founder of the famous Musaeum Septalianum. According to P.M. Terzago's account of the museum, published in 1664, the library comprised more than 7500 books and manuscripts, arranged in 300 bookcases. Lodovico's interests were wide-ranging, and included mathematics and astronomy; in 1620, he wrote to Galileo asking for a copy of his Difesa, and he campaigned subsequently "contro l'ammissione di Baldassare Capra nel Collegio dei Medici di Milano". Although Lodovico had stipulated in his testament that his library was to be preserved in the family, his eldest son, Manfredo, and grandson, Carlo, donated most of it to Biblioteca Ambrosiana, retaining in the family only books deemed to be duplicates.

A. Favaro, "Amici e corrispondenti di Galileo Galilei: 17, Lodovico Settala" in Atti del Reale Istituto Veneto di scienze, lettere ed arti 65 (1905-1906), pp.598-624; Ugo Rozzo, "La biblioteca di Manfredo Settala e la storia delle biblioteche" in L’organizzazione del sapere. Studi in onore di Alfredo Serrai, edited by M. T. Biagetti, Milan 2007, pp.353-381 (pp.365-366)

Tomash & Williams T8; Edit16 31855; Riccardi i, 496; USTC 858099

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, 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."

"This edition of La nova scienta has been reset from the original, but the illustrations appear identical. It is augmented at the end by the addition of a short description of a surveying instrument similar to a plane table, with a surveyor’s cross" (Tomash & Williams).