STOEFFLER (Johannes). - Lot 140

STOEFFLER (Johannes). Traité de la composition et fabrique de l'Astrolabe, & de son usage : avec les preceptes des mesures Geometriques [...] Avecques annotations sur l'usage de l'Astrolabe, & mesures Geometriques. Paris, Guillaume Cavellat, 1560. In-8, supple vellum overlay, traces of binding (contemporary binding). First edition in French of the treatise on the astrolabe by the German mathematician and geographer Johann Stoeffler (1452-1531). It was published by the astronomer Jean-Pierre de Mesmes, who wrote his own ideas on the use of this instrument and inserted them in italics in the text. (Lalande, p. 84.) The edition is illustrated with 2 folding tables and 52 woodcut technical figures in the text. Born in 1516 and dying around 1578, Jean-Pierre de Mesmes was one of the first Frenchmen to write about astronomy. Equally versed in poetry, he was a member of the Pléiade circle. Brunet (t. III, col. 1670) and Houzeau-Lancaster (t. I, n°3256) erroneously cite a first edition in 1556, of which we have found no copy. Copy in contemporary vellum, with numerous handwritten annotations from the period. Handwritten bookplate on title. Freckles, a few stains and small halos. Some defects to binding.