Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium - photo 1
Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium - photo 2
Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium - photo 3
Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium - photo 4
Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium - photo 5

Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium

Sold
$ 12 600
Auction dateClassic
19.10.2023 10:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1032783
Lot 131 | Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium
Johannes ZAHN (1641-1707). Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus sive Telescopium. Würzburg: Quirinus Heyl, 1685-1686.

First edition, a remarkable copy in contemporary pigskin, of the most important seventeenth-century treatise on lenses and optics—rarely found complete as here with all the plates, tables, and text. This work is "a complete treatment of the construction and use of lensed optical instruments. Presented in three fundamenta, that is, bases: the physical, the mathematical, and the practical or mechanical" (DiLaura). It is also a significant step in the development of photography; the camerae obscurae described by Zahn are fitted with combinations of lenses that are the basic system of our photographic cameras today. Among the copious illustrations are an early map of the moon, based on Chérubin d’Orléans, a map of the sun showing sunspots and eruptions on the surface, and a depiction of the geocentric system.

"In his Preface to the reader, Johannes Zahn adopts the word 'Teledioptrica' to indicate generally the art, craft, science, and practice of using lenses to extend, enhance, and correct vision. For Zahn, teledioptrics includes magnification by telescope and microscope, vision correction by spectacles, image capture by the camera obscura, and image projection by the magic lantern. He cites the benefits that teledioptrics has brought to man in peace, war, natural philosophy, economy, and medicine. And so, he makes clear the purpose and reason for his book: to describe in a full and complete form, all aspects of teledioptrics" (DiLaura). This copy includes an additional five early 18th-century manuscript leaves in Latin and German of learned notes, including optical tables and details. The notes refer to important optical theorists Chérubin d'Orléans, Claude François Milliet Dechales, and Christian Gottlieb Hertel. This copy is complete; although auction records occasionally refer to "8 of 11 folding tables," this is an error traceable to the Norman copy, which was erroneously described as having 11 tables in these rooms in 1989. DiLaura 192.

Three volumes bound in one, folio (314 x 196mm). Title pages to each volume printed in red and black. Engraved portrait frontispiece and additional title at front; engravings and woodcuts in text, with 2 double-page plates in vol 2 and 28 plates in vol 3, 2 double-page and one large folding plate; 8 letterpress tables (pl. opposite p.121 detached, browning and spotting, some small marginal tears, large folding plate with old repair). Contemporary blindstamped pigskin over beveled wooden boards, copper tabs marking vols 2 and 3, blue edges, straps (without catches, small area of leather missing from rear board). Provenance: Reichersberg Abbey, with old shelfmark on front pastedown and oval stamp on titles.
Artist:Johann Zahn (1641 - 1707)
Place of origin:Germany
Category:Printed book
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
14.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
15.10.2023 13:00 – 17:00
16.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
17.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
18.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

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.