ID 794584
Lot 166 | KEPLER, Johannes (1571-1630)
Estimate value
£ 25 000 – 35 000
De stella nova in pede serpentarii. Prague: Typis Pauli Sessii, impensis Authoris, 1606. 2 parts. – De stella tertii honoris in cygno, quae us que ad annum M.DC. fuit incognita. Prague: Paulus Sessius, 1606. – Jesu Christi servatoris nostri vero anno natalitio. Frankfurt: Wolfgang Richter, 1606.
First edition of Kepler's detailed description of the supernova of October 1604, commissioned by the Emperor, observing the nova's colour, brightness, its distance to the earth and other phenomena. His ‘extensive collection of observations and opinions appeared in a longer work... A subtitle announced it as: 'a book full of astronomical, physical, metaphysical, meteorological and astrological discussions, glorious and unusual.' That it was. Early chapters described the nova's appearance, astrological significance, and possible origin’ (DSB). The work discusses the central position of the sun in the universe and also calculates the size of the universe. The Nova was subsequently named Kepler's Nova or Kepler's star. Two variants of the title-page are recorded, this one with the imprint: ‘Typis Pauli Sessii, impensis Authoris’. No definitive priority has been established but correspondence by Kepler (quoted by Caspar) suggests that the present title-page is the second corrected version, which was Kepler's preferred issue and is much scarcer. Caspar 27; Cinti 17; Houzeau & Lancaster 2843.
4 parts in one volume, quarto (200 x 160mm). 3 separate title-pages, woodcut printer's device on general title, one double-page engraved plate, woodcut diagrams, with final blank (browning as usual, heavy on gatherings X-2A, a few ink stains, tiny single wormholes to title margins, small early paper repairs in Dd2 just touching a letter). Contemporary vellum over boards, title gilt lettered on spine, all edges green (small wormholes at spine, wormtracks in pastedowns).
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Artist: | Johannes Kepler (1571 - 1630) |
---|---|
Auction house category: | Printed books |
Artist: | Johannes Kepler (1571 - 1630) |
---|---|
Auction house category: | Printed books |
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
More from Creator
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.