URSINUS, Benjamin (1587-1633) - photo 1

URSINUS, Benjamin (1587-1633)

Lot 225
13.07.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 8 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 794470
Lot 225 | URSINUS, Benjamin (1587-1633)
Estimate value
£ 8 000 – 12 000
URSINUS, Benjamin (1587-1633)

Cursus mathematici practici volumen primum [all published] continens... Johannis Neperi... Trigonometriam logarithmicam, [etc.]. Cölln an der Spree [i.e. Berlin]: M. Guthius, 1619.

First edition, exceptionally rare, of 'The earliest publication of Napier's logarithms on the Continent ... Through this work Kepler became aware of the importance of Napier's discovery and expressed his enthusiasm in a letter to Napier dated 28 July 1619, printed in the dedication of his Ephemerides (1620)' (DSB IX, p.613).



Ursinus was for several years Kepler’s assistant: in Prague, he made observations with Kepler of the newly discovered satellites of Jupiter, published in his Narratio (1611), and later, after Kepler had moved to Linz, lived there in Kepler’s house for a year (1613/1614). A second issue of the Cursus Mathematici Practici was published in 1619 (same place and publisher). Worldcat lists eight copies only (British Library, Chicago, Columbia, Göttingen, Wittemberg, Munich, Berlin and Zurich). While two copies of the 1619 second edition have sold at auction in the past 40 years (including the Macclesfield copy, Sotheby’s 26 October 2005, lot 2027; £9,600), this is the only copy of the first edition to have come to market in that time (ABPC/RBH).



Octavo (157 x 96mm). A-C8, Aa-Gg8 Hh2, Hh1v-Hh2r blank, Hh2v with letterpress table, woodcut figures in text, with blank leaves C8 2A8 (short marginal tear to 2G2, occasional light browning). [Bound with two other philosophical works thus:] KECKERMANN, Bartholomäus. Commentarius ad systema logicum majus posthumous. Berlin: Martin Guthius, 1619. 8vo, pp. [iv], 304. Born in Danzig, Prussia, Keckermann (c. 1572-1608) was a German writer, Calvinist theologian, and philosopher, best known for his ‘analytical method’ used to establish modern ‘systematic theology.’ [And:] TIMPLER, Clemens. Opticae systema methodicum per theoremata et problemata selecta concinnatum et duobus libris comprehensum. Cui subjecta est Physiognomia humana, itidem duobus libris breviter et perspicue pertractata. Hanover: Petrum Antonium, 1617. 8vo, pp. [xxiv], [8], 240. Contemporary vellum, yapp edges (lightly soiled and extremties rubbed, upper joint more heavily worn). Provenance: Patrick Hume, 1st Earl of Marchmont (1641-1724, Scottish Presbyterian statesman and a supporter of William of Orange; engraved armorial bookplate) – Dr Alex. Dienst (Postmaster, Temple, Texas; blindstamp, ownership inscription and neat ink annotation).





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Place of origin:Western Europe, Germany, Europe
Auction house category:Printed books
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