Compilatio de Astrorum Scientia

Leopoldus de Austria

Published by Ratholt, 1489

About this Item

Augsburg, Ratdolt 1489 Hain-Copinger10042; Houseau 4702; Zinner 364; Stilwell 71 In small cuarto, 109 lvs as follows A;B;C;D;E;F;G;H;I;K;L;M;N in 8; O in six missing last blank A1: Letter title A2: Full page woodcut: Armillary sphere A2: verso: dedication by the printer Rathold A3: incipit Text in 6 chapters, richly illustrated with old colored woodcuts O5: Colophon, Compilatio Leopoldi Ducatis Filii….Januarii 1489 currente 35 half page woodcut of constellations; 54 half page illustrations of zodiac images. Two astronomical diagrams, printed in red and black (B1 recto and B8 verso) and colored initials throughout. Cut and rebound in old vellum. First and last leaf completed with contemporary paper, not affecting the text. Tiny marginal wormholes of first 8 leaves with old restoration, again not affecting the text. First printing of mediaeval astronomical, astrological and metrological text, richly illustrated and coloured. Here and there with contemporary, manuscript notes. The source of most of the text and images is Hyginus, librarian of Emperor Augustus. An other source is Ptolemy s Almagest with 48 constellations.The printing of this book by Ratdolt is no surprise as he worked as a woodcutter for Regiomontanus, the man who established the first scientific printing press.

Seller Inventory # 926

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Compilatio de Astrorum Scientia
• Publisher: Ratholt
• Publication Date: 1489
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good