Woodcut printer’s device on title. 4 p.l., 400 pp. Small thick 8vo, cont. richly blindstamped pigskin over wooden boards, one of the stamps with “H M” with the date “160[?]”, two catches & one (of two) clasps. Hanau: G. Antonius, 1607.

[bound with]:

THEODORICUS, Sebastianus. Novae Quaestiones Sphaericae, hoc est, de Circulis Coelestibus & primo mobili, in gratiam studiosae juventutis scriptae. Woodcut on title, numerous astronomical woodcuts in the text, three folding printed tables, & one large woodcut plate. 8 p.l. (the last a blank), 320 pp. Small 8vo. Wittenberg: L. Seuberlich for S. Selfisch, 1605. More about Systema Ethicae, Tribus Libris adornatum & publicis praelectionibus traditum in Gymnasio...

Lithographed frontispiece of Lenoir by Lasteyrie in Vol. I. Vol. I: 1–99 leaves; Vol. II: 98–279 leaves; Vol. III: 278bis–328 leaves; Vol. IV: 1–168 leaves; Vol. V: 169–253 leaves. Five vols. Small folio (ca. 335 x 220 mm.), Vols. I-IV disbound, Vol. V in cont. cloth-backed paste-paper boards (extremities worn). Paris: ca. 1830.

A remarkable discovery: the unpublished working manuscript, with numerous corrections and additions, of Alexandre Lenoir (1761-1839), the controversial director of the revolutionary Musée des Monuments Français, antiquary, and critic. This manuscript remains unstudied in its entirety. While the manuscript was evidently prepared to be sent to the printer, Lenoir clearly could not let it... More about Unpublished working manuscript, written on rectos only, with numerous additions and corrections,...

Fine engraved port. of the author holding a telescope. xiv (i.e. xvi), 158 (i.e. 160) pp. 4to, cont. limp boards (boards slightly soiled, minor spotting), uncut. Venice: F. Nicolini, 1685.

First edition and a lovely copy in original state. This book, a summary of Montanari’s battles against astrology, aroused great interest and brought about the banning of astrology from the universities. In this work, Montanari “instead of merely fulminating against astrology or repeating old arguments, attempted to show its falsity by experiments as well. His book is furthermore written in a sober, dispassionate and impartial manner which accords well with experimental... More about L’Astrologia convinta di Falso col mezzo di nuove esperienze, e Ragioni Fisico-Astronomiche, ó...

Large engraved vignette on title. 16 unnumbered leaves. Small 4to, attractive modern marbled boards. Leipzig: C. Kirchner, n.d [1664 or 1665].

First edition of this most uncommon account of the 1664 comet, visually the most impressive of the 17th century. It was observed by many of the greatest scientists of the period including Cassini and Borelli in Italy, Auzout and Petit in France, Hooke in England, and Samuel Danforth in North America.

In this work, Praetorius uses the pseudonym of Johannes Richter, “astrophilo.” Praetorius (1630-80), “had an open eye and a sharp ear for all wonder stories, witch tales, and accounts of ghosts... More about Meridionalis Nuncius das ist Ein Wunder-seltzamer südischer Crinit- oder Comet-Stern, Welchen...

[Edited by Johannes Angelus]. White-on-black woodcut initials & a large woodcut printer’s device in red at end. [156] unnumbered leaves (final two signatures bound at front in this copy, first few leaves a little frayed & lightly stained around margins), 40 lines, Gothic letter. 4to (220 x 164 mm.), cont. limp vellum (a little wrinkled). Augsburg: E. Ratdolt, 1490.

[bound with]:

ANGELUS (or ENGEL), Johannes. Astrolabium planum in Tabulis ascendens… Numerous woodcuts in the text, 7- & 12-line white-on-black woodcut initials. [176] unnumbered leaves (the final two are blank, four leaves misbound), 40 lines, Gothic letter. 4to (single small puncture hole in gutter in the second... More about Tabulae Directionum et Profectionum [& Tabella Sinus recti

Title with two fine woodcut vignettes, final leaf with a fine & large woodcut on verso, and numerous woodcut diagrams & printed tables in the text. Many fine woodcut initials. 8 p.l., clii numbered leaves. Folio, cont. richly blindstamped pigskin over bevelled wooden boards (two corners a little worn, first five leaves with unimportant marginal wormhole, second leaf with three small pale ink splatters), orig. clasps & catches. Nuremberg: J. Montanus & U. Neuber, 1545.

[bound with]:

APIAN, Peter & JABIR IBN AFLAH. Instrumentum Primi Mobilis, à Petro Apiano nunc primum et inventum et in lucem editum…Accedunt ijs Gebri filii Affla Hispalensis…Libri IX. de Astronomia... More about De Judiciis Nativitatum Libri Tres...Item Praefatio D. Philippi Melanthonis