Details
MÜLLER, Johann, of Königsberg, latinized as JOHANNES REGIOMONTANUS (1436-1476). Calendario. Translated from Latin into Italian. Venice: Bernard Maler, Erhard Ratdolt and Peter Löslein, 1476.
Royal half-sheet 4° (288 x 211mm). Collation: [18 210 (1/1r title and colophon: Questa opra da ogni parte e un libro doro. Non fu piu preciosa gemma mai Dil kalendario ... Venetijs. 1476. Bernardus pictor de Augusta Petrus loslein de Langencen Erhardus ratdolt de Augusta, 1/1-2/4 versos only: almanac for 1475, 1494 and 1513, 1/2-2/5 rectos only: calendar, 2/5v La tabula di paesi, 2/6r-10v calculations of moon and sun eclipses for the years 1475-1530); 312 (1.12 made up of two half-sheets pasted together, texts on the golden number, dominical letter, various festivals, eclipses, etc.)]. 30 leaves. Roman type 1:109. 37 lines. Title, calendar and tables printed in red and black, lombard initials red-printed. Woodcut title-border 1 of foliate ornament and vases, woodcut initials; 60 woodcuts of eclipses partly coloured yellow; 4 full-page woodcut diagrams, the second Lo instrumento del vero moto de la luna (3/1v) with one woodcut volvelle, the fourth WITH THE ORIGINAL BRASS POINTER. (Apparently one volvelle lacking, slight ink-staining on title, minor marginal worming, otherwise A LARGE AND FRESH COPY.) 18th-century mottled calf, and green vellum and paper dust-jacket of similar date. Provenance: binding probably Italian; Sir George Shuckburgh (armorial bookplate).
FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN. The first Latin edition of this important scientific work was printed and published by Regiomontanus himself in Nuremberg (ca. 1472-74). There he established the first European observatory and constructed many astronomical instruments. Pope Sixtus IV invited the celebrated German astronomer to Rome to reform the calendar. This Venetian edition and the Latin edition of the same year by the three German partners contain what might be described as the first modern title-page; printed in red and black within a decorative border, it lists in verse the author, title and subjects, and gives a full imprint: I nomi di impressori son qui da basso di rossi colori. HC 13789; Pr 4366; BMC V, 243; Goff R-103; IGI 5315; CIBN R-69; Sander 6401; Essling 248; Redgrave 2; Klebs 838.1.
Royal half-sheet 4° (288 x 211mm). Collation: [18 210 (1/1r title and colophon: Questa opra da ogni parte e un libro doro. Non fu piu preciosa gemma mai Dil kalendario ... Venetijs. 1476. Bernardus pictor de Augusta Petrus loslein de Langencen Erhardus ratdolt de Augusta, 1/1-2/4 versos only: almanac for 1475, 1494 and 1513, 1/2-2/5 rectos only: calendar, 2/5v La tabula di paesi, 2/6r-10v calculations of moon and sun eclipses for the years 1475-1530); 312 (1.12 made up of two half-sheets pasted together, texts on the golden number, dominical letter, various festivals, eclipses, etc.)]. 30 leaves. Roman type 1:109. 37 lines. Title, calendar and tables printed in red and black, lombard initials red-printed. Woodcut title-border 1 of foliate ornament and vases, woodcut initials; 60 woodcuts of eclipses partly coloured yellow; 4 full-page woodcut diagrams, the second Lo instrumento del vero moto de la luna (3/1v) with one woodcut volvelle, the fourth WITH THE ORIGINAL BRASS POINTER. (Apparently one volvelle lacking, slight ink-staining on title, minor marginal worming, otherwise A LARGE AND FRESH COPY.) 18th-century mottled calf, and green vellum and paper dust-jacket of similar date. Provenance: binding probably Italian; Sir George Shuckburgh (armorial bookplate).
FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN. The first Latin edition of this important scientific work was printed and published by Regiomontanus himself in Nuremberg (ca. 1472-74). There he established the first European observatory and constructed many astronomical instruments. Pope Sixtus IV invited the celebrated German astronomer to Rome to reform the calendar. This Venetian edition and the Latin edition of the same year by the three German partners contain what might be described as the first modern title-page; printed in red and black within a decorative border, it lists in verse the author, title and subjects, and gives a full imprint: I nomi di impressori son qui da basso di rossi colori. HC 13789; Pr 4366; BMC V, 243; Goff R-103; IGI 5315; CIBN R-69; Sander 6401; Essling 248; Redgrave 2; Klebs 838.1.