BABBAGE, MATHEMATICAL TABLES, 5 ITEMS

i. "Notice respecting some errors common to many tables of logarithms." [from:] Memoirs of the Astronomical Society of London, vol. 3, pt. 1, pp.65-67. London: Astronomical Society of London, 1829, disbound, (bought from Bernard Quaritch, London, 1985), [T&W B42; Van Sinderen 32] ii. Table of the logarithms of the natural numbers from 1 to 108000. London: William Clowes and Sons, 1841, fourth edition, vellum, cloth folding box, (bought from Jeffrey D. Mancevice, Worcester, MA, 1987), [T&W B57; Van Sinderen 33 (cited)], spotted, covers slightly stained iii. Table of the logarithms of the natural numbers from 1 to 108000. London: William Clowes and Sons, 1841, half calf, fourth edition, (William Henry Tyndall, notes and inscription; bought from River Bend, 2005), [T&W B57; Van Sinderen 33 (cited)]iv. "On tables of the constants of nature and art." [in:] Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution... 1857, pp.289-302. Washington, DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1857, original blind-stamped cloth, [T&W B59; Origins of Cyberspace 76; Van Sinderen 44 (cited)]v. Callet, François (1744-1799). Table of the logarithms of sines and tangents, for every second, of the first five degrees, and of the sines, cosines, tangents and cotangents, for every ten seconds of the quadrant. Paris (London?): Firmin Didot, 1827, nineteenth-century half calf, (bought from Bernard Quaritch, London, 1990), [T&W C16]8vo (5)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when 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."

The first paper is an important one by Babbage pointing out that almost all logarithmic tables had been copied from earlier versions and consequently contained the same errors. The source of six common errors was the table produced by Vlacq in 1628 (see lot 679). He notes that the same errors were to be found in a Chinese set of tables housed in the Royal Society library. The fourth item proposes an ambitious project to tabulate all natural features of all plants and animals.