Astronomiae instauratae mechanica
Tycho Brahe, 1602
Details
Astronomiae instauratae mechanica
Tycho Brahe, 1602
BRAHE, Tycho (1546-1601). Astronomiae instauratae mechanica. Nuremberg: Levinus Hulsius, 1602.
Tycho Brahe’s most important astronomical work
The first trade edition of Brahe's illustrated catalogue of his famous astronomical instruments, ‘the most advanced in the world for their time’ (Norman); it also includes description of his globe and observatory at Hven.
The 1598 edition was printed in only 40 copies by Philip de Ohr on Brahe's own press at Heinrich Rantzov's castle at Wandbeck, near Hamburg, and distributed privately. The illustrations here were printed from the same engraved plates and woodblocks, sold by the author's heirs to Levinus Hulsius, to which the large title portrait engraving was added and an engraving of an armillary sphere on C6 verso replaced a woodcut.
In 1576, King Frederick II, hearing of Brahe’s plans to move to Basel to conduct his scientific investigations, conferred upon Brahe lifelong use of the island of Hven in the Danish Sound. There the astronomer constructed the most advanced astronomical observatory of his time, which he christened Uraniborg (Heavenly Castle). In 1584 he added a second observatory, Stjerneborg, with additional instruments in five subterranean rooms and a study with only the vaulted roof and the tops of the walls protruding above ground. Brahe's brass-encased globe was housed in the library of the main building: ‘On this globe, over the years, Tycho marked the exact positions, referred to the year 1600, of the fixed stars that he observed [...] In the southwest room on the ground floor at Uraniborg [...] was Tycho's most famous instrument, the mural quadrant [for measuring the altitude at which celestial bodies crossed the meridian], with a radius of about six feet [...] Inside the quadrant's arc, for ornamental purposes, was painted a life-size portrait of Tycho seated at a table, with arm outstretched as though pointing to a cylinder’ (DSB). The two observatories and principal instruments, including the great globe now preserved in Copenhagen, are illustrated and fully described in the present catalogue, which also contains a short autobiography and a summary of the principal results of Brahe's observations. Houzeau & Lancaster 2703, Norman 320; Sparrow Milestones 29.
Small folio (319 x 203mm). Title-page with large engraved portrait of Brahe standing beneath an arch hung with the arms of the families Brahe and Bille, 6 large engravings (five of astronomical instruments, one of the observatory at Hven, Uraniborg), 19 large woodcuts (mostly of instruments and one of Uraniborg and one of Stellaborg), and several smaller woodcuts (including a map of the island of Hven), decorative woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials (some browning, spotting and oxidisation, some lower outer corners lightly frayed, short tear at head of title, faint dampstain at end). Later vellum-backed thick-paper wrapper, spine titled in ink (short tears and light soiling).
Tycho Brahe, 1602
BRAHE, Tycho (1546-1601). Astronomiae instauratae mechanica. Nuremberg: Levinus Hulsius, 1602.
Tycho Brahe’s most important astronomical work
The first trade edition of Brahe's illustrated catalogue of his famous astronomical instruments, ‘the most advanced in the world for their time’ (Norman); it also includes description of his globe and observatory at Hven.
The 1598 edition was printed in only 40 copies by Philip de Ohr on Brahe's own press at Heinrich Rantzov's castle at Wandbeck, near Hamburg, and distributed privately. The illustrations here were printed from the same engraved plates and woodblocks, sold by the author's heirs to Levinus Hulsius, to which the large title portrait engraving was added and an engraving of an armillary sphere on C6 verso replaced a woodcut.
In 1576, King Frederick II, hearing of Brahe’s plans to move to Basel to conduct his scientific investigations, conferred upon Brahe lifelong use of the island of Hven in the Danish Sound. There the astronomer constructed the most advanced astronomical observatory of his time, which he christened Uraniborg (Heavenly Castle). In 1584 he added a second observatory, Stjerneborg, with additional instruments in five subterranean rooms and a study with only the vaulted roof and the tops of the walls protruding above ground. Brahe's brass-encased globe was housed in the library of the main building: ‘On this globe, over the years, Tycho marked the exact positions, referred to the year 1600, of the fixed stars that he observed [...] In the southwest room on the ground floor at Uraniborg [...] was Tycho's most famous instrument, the mural quadrant [for measuring the altitude at which celestial bodies crossed the meridian], with a radius of about six feet [...] Inside the quadrant's arc, for ornamental purposes, was painted a life-size portrait of Tycho seated at a table, with arm outstretched as though pointing to a cylinder’ (DSB). The two observatories and principal instruments, including the great globe now preserved in Copenhagen, are illustrated and fully described in the present catalogue, which also contains a short autobiography and a summary of the principal results of Brahe's observations. Houzeau & Lancaster 2703, Norman 320; Sparrow Milestones 29.
Small folio (319 x 203mm). Title-page with large engraved portrait of Brahe standing beneath an arch hung with the arms of the families Brahe and Bille, 6 large engravings (five of astronomical instruments, one of the observatory at Hven, Uraniborg), 19 large woodcuts (mostly of instruments and one of Uraniborg and one of Stellaborg), and several smaller woodcuts (including a map of the island of Hven), decorative woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials (some browning, spotting and oxidisation, some lower outer corners lightly frayed, short tear at head of title, faint dampstain at end). Later vellum-backed thick-paper wrapper, spine titled in ink (short tears and light soiling).
Provenance
a Jesuit library inscription deleted from title, some numerical ?doodles at foot.
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