拍品 722
  • 722

BABBAGE, TABLE OF LOGARITHMS, LONDON, 1829, PRESENTATION COPY TO GIAMBATTISTA MAGISTRINI, ORIGINAL BOARDS

估價
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
招標截止

描述

  • Table of logarithms of the natural numbers, from 1 to 108000. London: B. Fellowes, 1829
FIRST EDITION (second issue, see footnote), PRESENTATION COPY, 8vo (260 x 155mm.), printed on yellow paper, final leaf with imprint alone, original boards, printed label on spine, uncut, modern folding cloth box, recased retaining original spine

來源

Professor Giovanni Battista Magistrini (1777-1849), presentation inscription; bought from Erasmushaus, Basel, 2002

出版

Tomash & Williams B54; cf. Van Sinderen 33 (cited)

Condition

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

拍品資料及來源

Presentation copy, inscribed "To Professor Magistrini &c. Bologna with the Author's Compliments". Giovanni Battista Magistrini was an Italian mathematician at the University of Bologna and a member of Accademia nazionale delle scienze. "Babbage's interest in calculating machines arose from his desire to mechanically compute sets of mathematical tables and thus eliminate the errors that inevitably crept into them when they were calculated and typeset by hand. He created this table of logarithms not by calculating them, but by comparing many different tables against one another. When differences were noted he would recalculate the correct value, thus producing the first error-free table of logarithms" (Tomash & Williams). He experimented with different colours of paper in the printing of this work for ease of reading.

The first edition of this work appeared in 1827, printed for J. Mawman. Babbage checked his work against other tables, and found nine errors: "These were printed as a list of errata following the 12-page preface in a different printing of the first edition published by B. Fellowes in 1829. A second edition in 1831 incorporated these corrections and slightly changed the introduction" (Van Sinderen).