Astronomiae instauratae mechanica - photo 1
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Astronomiae instauratae mechanica

Lot 70
28.01.2025 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1360786
Lot 70 | Astronomiae instauratae mechanica
Estimate value
$ 18 000 – 25 000
BRAHE, Tycho (1546-1601). Astronomiae instauratae mechanica. Nuremberg: Levinus Hulsius, 1602.

The first trade edition of Brahe's illustrated catalogue of his famous astronomical instruments, "the most advanced in the world for their time" (Norman). One of Brahe's most important works, it also includes description of his globe and observatory at Hven. The 1598 edition was printed by Philip de Ohr on Brahe's own press at Heinrich Rantzov's castle at Wandbeck, near Hamburg, in forty copies which Brahe distributed privately. With the exception of the portrait, which is new, and the engraving of an armillary sphere on C6 verso replacing a woodcut, the illustrations of this published edition were printed from the blocks and plates of the first edition which was sold by the author's heirs to Levinus Hulsius. In 1576, King Frederick II conferred upon Brahe lifelong use of the island of Hven in the Danish Sound. There the astronomer constructed the most advanced astronomical observatory of his time, which he christened Uraniborg (Heavenly Castle). In 1584 he added a second observatory, Stjerneborg, with additional instruments in five subterranean rooms and a study with only the vaulted roof and the tops of the walls protruding above ground. Brahe's brass-encased globe was housed in the library of the main building: "On this globe, over the years, Tycho marked the exact positions, referred to the year 1600, of the fixed stars that he observed [...] In the southwest room on the ground floor at Uraniborg [...] was Tycho's most famous instrument, the mural quadrant [for measuring the altitude at which celestial bodies crossed the meridian], with a radius of about six feet [...] Inside the quadrant's arc, for ornamental purposes, was painted a life-size portrait of Tycho seated at a table, with arm outstretched as though pointing to a cylinder" (DSB). The two observatories and principal instruments, including the great globe now preserved in Copenhagen, are illustrated and fully described in the present catalogue, which also contains a short autobiography and a summary of the principal results of Brahe's observations. Houzeau & Lancaster 2703, Norman 320.

Small folio (312 x 185mm). Title-page with large engraved portrait of Brahe standing beneath an arch hung with the arms of the families Brahe and Bille, 6 large engravings (five of astronomical instruments, one of the observatory at Hven, Uraniborg), 19 large woodcuts (mostly of instruments and one of Uraniborg and one of Stellaborg), and several smaller woodcuts (including a map of the island of Hven), decorative woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials (quire A measuring 198 x 180mm and supplied from another copy with repairs at corners, some browning throughout, occasional marginal repairs elsewhere with F6 repaired at corner grazing plate mark not affecting any text, observatory engraving on H6 slightly crooked with page trimmed slightly past platemark). Contemporary calf (rebacked, corners worn, new endpapers). Provenance: Owen Gingerich (bookplate).
Place of origin:Germany
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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14.01.2025 – 28.01.2025
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