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Details
EUCLIDES
Elementa geometria. Translated by Adelhardus Bathoniensis (c.1110-1142). Edited by Campanus of Novara (d.1296). Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, 25 May 1482. Super-chancery 2° (294 x 210mm). Collation: a10 b-r8 (a1r blank, a1v Ratdolt's dedication to Giovanni Mocenigo, doge of Venice, a2r text, r7v colophon, r8 blank). 138 leaves. 45 lines and headline. Type: 3:91G (text), 7:92G (preface and propositions), 7b:100R (headlines); 4:56G (diagrams). Heading on a2r printed in red. Woodcut 3/4 white-on-black border opening text, woodcut white-on-black initials in several sizes, type-metal geometrical diagrams in margins, ALL COLOURED BY AN EARLY HAND, Barozzi arms in woodcut border (argent a fess azure) with initials 'P.B.', arms repeated in initial on h1v. Variant readings agree with GW main entry. (First leaf partly detached, tiny paper flaw in c1 affecting 2 letters, very occasional light spotting, small stain in extreme upper margin of final 3 quires.) 18th-century vellum-backed buff paper boards, 17th-century red and black leather spine labels retained, vellum quire guards (labels slightly chipped, some slight wear at extremities).
FIRST EDITION, SECOND IMPRESSION of a work which 'has exercised an influence upon the human mind greater than that of any other work except the Bible' (DSB). It retained its primacy as a basic text for more than two thousand years, thereby influencing all subsequent mathematical and scientific thought. The text printed here -- a recension by Campanus of Novara, based primarily on the 12th-century translation from the Arabic by the English mathematician Adelard of Bath -- was the most influential of the Middle Ages. Campanus's recension is notable for its additional material, such as supplementary axioms and explanations, and for his notes relating the geometry to larger philosophical problems. These additions increased the suitability of the work to the medieval university curriculum, and it became a required text in faculties of arts throughout Europe. Its rigour in the field of mathematics was not equalled until Newton in the 17th century.
This copy was previously owned by the humanist bishop of Padua, Pietro Barozzi, whose arms and initials are painted in the woodcut border. At his death in 1507 an inventory of his library was prepared which lists 355 titles; 'Euclides: in geometria' appears as number 67 (Govi, Patavinae Cathedralis Ecclesiae Capitularis Bibliotheca. Librorum XV saec. impressorum index, 1958). By repute, a large part of his library was sent to England (Govi), and about 155 books remain today in the Biblioteca Capitolare at Padua. Barozzi was noted for his erudition, and Pompanozzi praised in particular his knowledge of mathematics, the foundation of which was undoubtedly Euclid. Barozzi was not just a reader and book collector but a bibliophile and patron of the book arts. A number of his printed books were illuminated by the well-known Paduan miniaturist, Antonio Maria da Villafore, who also enjoyed the patronage of Peter Ugelheimer ('La biblioteca del vescovo Pietro Barozzi e l'attivitaà avanzata di Antonio Maria da Villafora e Benedetto Bordon', in G. Mariani Canova, La Miniatura a Padova dal Medioevo al Settecento, 1999, pp.377-386).
The Ratdolt Euclid is not only a monument of typography ('an outstandingly fine piece of printing' -- PMM), but it is also one of the earliest books with printed geometrical figures. Ratdolt speaks in his dedication to Doge Mocenigo of the difficulties in printing the work, particularly in reproducing these figures. HC *6693; GW 9428; BMC V, 285 (IB.20513-5); IGI 3722; Essling 282; Klebs 383.1; PMM 25; Redgrave 26; Stillwell, Awakening, 163; Thomas-Stanford 1a; Grolier/Horblit 27; Goff E-113.
Elementa geometria. Translated by Adelhardus Bathoniensis (c.1110-1142). Edited by Campanus of Novara (d.1296). Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, 25 May 1482. Super-chancery 2° (294 x 210mm). Collation: a
FIRST EDITION, SECOND IMPRESSION of a work which 'has exercised an influence upon the human mind greater than that of any other work except the Bible' (DSB). It retained its primacy as a basic text for more than two thousand years, thereby influencing all subsequent mathematical and scientific thought. The text printed here -- a recension by Campanus of Novara, based primarily on the 12th-century translation from the Arabic by the English mathematician Adelard of Bath -- was the most influential of the Middle Ages. Campanus's recension is notable for its additional material, such as supplementary axioms and explanations, and for his notes relating the geometry to larger philosophical problems. These additions increased the suitability of the work to the medieval university curriculum, and it became a required text in faculties of arts throughout Europe. Its rigour in the field of mathematics was not equalled until Newton in the 17th century.
This copy was previously owned by the humanist bishop of Padua, Pietro Barozzi, whose arms and initials are painted in the woodcut border. At his death in 1507 an inventory of his library was prepared which lists 355 titles; 'Euclides: in geometria' appears as number 67 (Govi, Patavinae Cathedralis Ecclesiae Capitularis Bibliotheca. Librorum XV saec. impressorum index, 1958). By repute, a large part of his library was sent to England (Govi), and about 155 books remain today in the Biblioteca Capitolare at Padua. Barozzi was noted for his erudition, and Pompanozzi praised in particular his knowledge of mathematics, the foundation of which was undoubtedly Euclid. Barozzi was not just a reader and book collector but a bibliophile and patron of the book arts. A number of his printed books were illuminated by the well-known Paduan miniaturist, Antonio Maria da Villafore, who also enjoyed the patronage of Peter Ugelheimer ('La biblioteca del vescovo Pietro Barozzi e l'attivitaà avanzata di Antonio Maria da Villafora e Benedetto Bordon', in G. Mariani Canova, La Miniatura a Padova dal Medioevo al Settecento, 1999, pp.377-386).
The Ratdolt Euclid is not only a monument of typography ('an outstandingly fine piece of printing' -- PMM), but it is also one of the earliest books with printed geometrical figures. Ratdolt speaks in his dedication to Doge Mocenigo of the difficulties in printing the work, particularly in reproducing these figures. HC *6693; GW 9428; BMC V, 285 (IB.20513-5); IGI 3722; Essling 282; Klebs 383.1; PMM 25; Redgrave 26; Stillwell, Awakening, 163; Thomas-Stanford 1a; Grolier/Horblit 27; Goff E-113.
Provenance
Pietro Barozzi, Bishop of Padua (1441-1507, arms on title).
Brescia, unidentified college (16th/17th-century inscription).
Brescia, Jesuit College (17th-century inscription).
Sir George Shuckburgh (1751-1804, armorial bookplate), sale; Christie's, 4 April 1962, lot 32.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, Amsterdam, 18 June 1982, lot 439 (to Dreesmann).
Dr Anton C.R. Dreesmann (inventory no. Y-32).
Brescia, unidentified college (16th/17th-century inscription).
Brescia, Jesuit College (17th-century inscription).
Sir George Shuckburgh (1751-1804, armorial bookplate), sale; Christie's, 4 April 1962, lot 32.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, Amsterdam, 18 June 1982, lot 439 (to Dreesmann).
Dr Anton C.R. Dreesmann (inventory no. Y-32).
Special notice
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