![BROWN, John, philomath. The Description and Use of the Trianguler-Quadrant. London: John Darby for John Wingfield, John Brown and John Sellers [sic], 1671. [Bound with:] Brown, J. Horologiographia or the Art of Dyalling, being the second book of the use of the Trianguler-Quadrant. London: John Darby for John Wingfield, John Brown and John Seller, 1671.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2016/CKS/2016_CKS_12140_0310_000(brown_john_philomath_the_description_and_use_of_the_trianguler-quadran065429).jpg?w=1)
Details
BROWN, John, philomath. The Description and Use of the Trianguler-Quadrant. London: John Darby for John Wingfield, John Brown and John Sellers [sic], 1671. [Bound with:] Brown, J. Horologiographia or the Art of Dyalling, being the second book of the use of the Trianguler-Quadrant. London: John Darby for John Wingfield, John Brown and John Seller, 1671.
2 separately issued books in one volume, 8° (145 x 90mm). Book 1: 23 engraved plates, loosely inserted or tipped in, including folding plate at end. Book 2: 24 engraved plates only, loosely inserted, including folding plate in appendix. (Old dampstains, some browning and spotting, occasional soiling, book two lacking frontispiece and some plates, and with quires H-Q wormed at margin.) Contemporary calf (spine worn). Provenance: Harrison D. Horblit (book label; his sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 4 November 1980, lot 474).
FIRST EDITIONS, HORBLIT COPY. John Brown was an instrument-maker in London working in partnership with John Seller and John Wingfield. One of his customers was Samuel Pepys. His advertisement at the end of book two recommends John Colson and Euclide Speidwel as teachers in the use of mathematical instruments, but he himself wrote a prolific number of explanatory textbooks. Having published a 24-page pamphlet on the triangular quadrant (or sector) in 1662, he here issued two books in the same year on its multiple applications in arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, dialing, gaging and navigation, 483 and 305pp. respectively. The number of unbound plates understandably varies between copies. ESTC calls for 19 plates in book one, this copy has 23. ESTC calls for 41 plates in book two including a frontispiece. However, the few copies to appear at auction have had significantly less. Copies of Horologiographia sold by Sotheby’s in 2004 and 1968 had a count of 25 plates, both lacked the frontispiece portrait. A copy sold in Francis Edwards’ catalogue of 1961 had the portrait and 24 plates. The copy sold by Sotheby’s in 1960 contained the portrait and 23 plates. BOOK ONE IS PARTICULARLY RARE, ESTC recording only 4 institutional copies. Wing B-5041 & B-5042.
2 separately issued books in one volume, 8° (145 x 90mm). Book 1: 23 engraved plates, loosely inserted or tipped in, including folding plate at end. Book 2: 24 engraved plates only, loosely inserted, including folding plate in appendix. (Old dampstains, some browning and spotting, occasional soiling, book two lacking frontispiece and some plates, and with quires H-Q wormed at margin.) Contemporary calf (spine worn). Provenance: Harrison D. Horblit (book label; his sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 4 November 1980, lot 474).
FIRST EDITIONS, HORBLIT COPY. John Brown was an instrument-maker in London working in partnership with John Seller and John Wingfield. One of his customers was Samuel Pepys. His advertisement at the end of book two recommends John Colson and Euclide Speidwel as teachers in the use of mathematical instruments, but he himself wrote a prolific number of explanatory textbooks. Having published a 24-page pamphlet on the triangular quadrant (or sector) in 1662, he here issued two books in the same year on its multiple applications in arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, dialing, gaging and navigation, 483 and 305pp. respectively. The number of unbound plates understandably varies between copies. ESTC calls for 19 plates in book one, this copy has 23. ESTC calls for 41 plates in book two including a frontispiece. However, the few copies to appear at auction have had significantly less. Copies of Horologiographia sold by Sotheby’s in 2004 and 1968 had a count of 25 plates, both lacked the frontispiece portrait. A copy sold in Francis Edwards’ catalogue of 1961 had the portrait and 24 plates. The copy sold by Sotheby’s in 1960 contained the portrait and 23 plates. BOOK ONE IS PARTICULARLY RARE, ESTC recording only 4 institutional copies. Wing B-5041 & B-5042.
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