FONTANA, Franciscus (d. 1656). Novae Coelestium Terrestriumque Rerum Observationes, Naples: apud Gaffarum, 1646, 4°, FIRST EDITION, engraved title, portrait of the author, one folding plate tipped-onto guard, 27 engravings and 26 woodcuts in text, with the blank V4 followed by two leaves of index, the first signed A4 (title perforated, affected by severe worming at margins, and with one marginal tear just affecting plate area, title and portrait both tipped-in, the portrait short and probably supplied from another copy, title, portrait and plate with stamp on verso, accession number at foot of A2, earlier leaves with browning at inner margins slightly affecting text and illustrations, E2 affected by paper fault), modern grey boards (some wear to cloth spine). [Honeyman 1335; Houzeau & Lancaster II, 1328; Riccardi I, 467: "Raro e apprezzato"; Sotheran I, 1359]

Details

FONTANA, Franciscus (d. 1656). Novae Coelestium Terrestriumque Rerum Observationes, Naples: apud Gaffarum, 1646, 4°, FIRST EDITION, engraved title, portrait of the author, one folding plate tipped-onto guard, 27 engravings and 26 woodcuts in text, with the blank V4 followed by two leaves of index, the first signed A4 (title perforated, affected by severe worming at margins, and with one marginal tear just affecting plate area, title and portrait both tipped-in, the portrait short and probably supplied from another copy, title, portrait and plate with stamp on verso, accession number at foot of A2, earlier leaves with browning at inner margins slightly affecting text and illustrations, E2 affected by paper fault), modern grey boards (some wear to cloth spine). [Honeyman 1335; Houzeau & Lancaster II, 1328; Riccardi I, 467: "Raro e apprezzato"; Sotheran I, 1359]

Lot Essay

A book celebrated for containing the first observations of spots on Mars, and also of note on account of Fontana's claims to the discovery of the telescope and microscope.

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