Horologe magnetique elliptique ou ovale nouveau, de facile usage, et tres-commode, pour trouver les heures du jour & de la nuict, lors-mesme que le ciel est couvert, si seulement on peut appercevoir, ou cognoistre en quel endroict est le soleil, ou la lune, ou si on peut descouvrir quelque estoille cogneüe. Avec divers moyens de rendre cet horologe universel pour tous pays.

GEORGES, Pierre.

Published by Simon Belgrand, G. Perin and I. Laurent,, Toul (Lorraine),, 1660

About this Item

First edition of a curious and extensively illustrated work on what the author calls a "horloge magnetique", a horizontal sundial with a rotating magnetic needle. He makes great (and dubious) claims for his invention: it can be used day or night, even when the sky is overcast, as long as one can make out the sun, moon or a known star. The magnetic needle did no doubt help one set it up at any location, as he claimed.The title-page notes that Pierre Georges is Chanoine régulier at the Congrégation de Notre-Sauveur, established by the archbishop of Toul in 1623 under Jesuit influence, and it also gives the Jesuit "IHS" with cross. Given that Jesuit association, the manuscript fragment used for the binding is particularly interesting, for it contains a text known from the Acta sanctorum (which is arranged by the Saints' feast days, in this case 25 July). With an early 19th-century 2-page note on a free endleaf with information about Georges, the dedicatee François Grimaldi and the book. In good condition.l Berthoud, Histoire de la mesure du temps 2, p. 348; Houzeau & Lancaster 11491; Tardy, Bibl. mesure du temps, p. 108. Contemporary parchment made from the lower part of a leaf from a Jesuit manuscript (Acta sanctorum, for 25 July, this part not published until 1729, written in 2 columns, each with the last 18 of about 24 lines in a humanistic minuscule hand with rubricated capitals), sewn on 2 thongs, with a hollow back. With 8 engraved plates (1-7 numbered) with 46 numbered figures, 4 woodcut decorated initials (2 series), decorations built up from cast fleurons and a letterpress folding table after page 196. Pages: [12], ''296'' [= 298], [2 blank] pp.

Seller Inventory # 17079

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Horologe magnetique elliptique ou ovale nouveau, de facile usage, et tres-commode, pour trouver les heures du jour & de la nuict, lors-mesme que le ciel est couvert, si seulement on peut appercevoir, ou cognoistre en quel endroict est le soleil, ou la lune, ou si on peut descouvrir quelque estoille cogneüe. Avec divers moyens de rendre cet horologe universel pour tous pays.
• Publisher: Simon Belgrand, G. Perin and I. Laurent,, Toul (Lorraine),
• Publication Date: 1660