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WARD, Seth (1617-1689). Astronomia geometrica: ubi methodus proponitur qua primariorum planetarum astronomia sive elliptica cirularis possit geomitricè absolvi. London: Jacob Flesher, 1656.
3 parts, 8° (177 x 110mm). Preliminary blank, title in red and black, one folding woodcut plate, woodcut diagrams in text. (Title browned at edges, occasional browning of text, B1 with tear at bottom margin causing slight loss to diagram on verso.) Contemporary calf tooled in blind, morocco spine label (joints cracked but cords holding, covers slightly bowed, label chipped). Provenance: occasional marginalia in an early hand, possibly that of J. Patrick (his signature on front free endpaper) – armorial bookplate (unidentified).
FIRST EDITION. This work developed Ward's refinement of Johann Kepler's second law of planetary motion, presented as a response to Ismael Boulliau's Astronomia philolaica (Paris, 1645). ‘Kepler's second law proved unsatisfactory to astronomers because it did not provide an easy way of determining planetary movements. In trying to solve these difficulties Boulliau developed a complex scheme which Ward was able to simplify dramatically … Neither Boulliau's nor Ward's innovations were a real improvement on Kepler's second law, being only approximately true, but they proved influential among astronomers who would otherwise have to struggle with trial and error or successive approximation methods if they adhered to Kepler's original formulation’ (DSB XIV, p.177). Honeyman 3090; Houzeau and Lancaster 11840; Wing W-816.
3 parts, 8° (177 x 110mm). Preliminary blank, title in red and black, one folding woodcut plate, woodcut diagrams in text. (Title browned at edges, occasional browning of text, B1 with tear at bottom margin causing slight loss to diagram on verso.) Contemporary calf tooled in blind, morocco spine label (joints cracked but cords holding, covers slightly bowed, label chipped). Provenance: occasional marginalia in an early hand, possibly that of J. Patrick (his signature on front free endpaper) – armorial bookplate (unidentified).
FIRST EDITION. This work developed Ward's refinement of Johann Kepler's second law of planetary motion, presented as a response to Ismael Boulliau's Astronomia philolaica (Paris, 1645). ‘Kepler's second law proved unsatisfactory to astronomers because it did not provide an easy way of determining planetary movements. In trying to solve these difficulties Boulliau developed a complex scheme which Ward was able to simplify dramatically … Neither Boulliau's nor Ward's innovations were a real improvement on Kepler's second law, being only approximately true, but they proved influential among astronomers who would otherwise have to struggle with trial and error or successive approximation methods if they adhered to Kepler's original formulation’ (DSB XIV, p.177). Honeyman 3090; Houzeau and Lancaster 11840; Wing W-816.
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