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The Elements of Geometrie. Translated into English by Sir Henry Billingsley (d. 1606), with a preface by John Dee (1527-1608). London: John Day, 1570.
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EUCLID (fl. c.300 B.C.)
The Elements of Geometrie. Translated into English by Sir Henry Billingsley (d. 1606), with a preface by John Dee (1527-1608). London: John Day, 1570.
First edition of the first complete English translation of Euclid’s Elements. This full translation by Sir Henry Billingsley, a successful London merchant who later became Lord Mayor, relied on the achievments of two earlier editors, Campanus Novara (a medieval Latin translation first printed in Venice 1482) and Bartolomeo Zamberti (a new translation from Greek into Latin printed in 1505), and undoubtedly benefited from the involvement of John Dee who not only wrote the ‘very fruitfull preface’ but contributed many annotations and additional theorems. ‘This Preface, which set out systematically the many derivatives and practical applications of arithmetic and geometry... established Dee's intellectual leadership among English mathematical practitioners for three generations or more’ (Taylor). The printing by John Day (1522-1584) of such a large folio, complete with its folding overslips, was a monumental task, and his portrait is included both on the colophon and possibly as the bearded figure of Mercury at the foot of the title-page. The overslips were originally printed as six bifolia bound in at the end. STC 10560; Thomas-Stanford 41.
Folio (312 x 210mm). With final blank. Title within an allegorical woodcut border, showing Time bringing Truth and Antiquity to light [McKerrow & Ferguson 99], geometrical diagrams throughout, 37 in Book XI with overslips, woodcut initials and ornaments, portrait of John Day at end (lacking folding letterpress 'Groundplat', some light staining and marginal soiling, two leaves heavily browned). 17th-century calf. Provenance: some early annotations – Roger Kenyon (c.1627-1698; inscription on title recording purchase from Thomas Braithwaite of Skerton [Lancashire]) – George Kenyon of Peel, Esqr (d.1780; bookplate).
The Elements of Geometrie. Translated into English by Sir Henry Billingsley (d. 1606), with a preface by John Dee (1527-1608). London: John Day, 1570.
First edition of the first complete English translation of Euclid’s Elements. This full translation by Sir Henry Billingsley, a successful London merchant who later became Lord Mayor, relied on the achievments of two earlier editors, Campanus Novara (a medieval Latin translation first printed in Venice 1482) and Bartolomeo Zamberti (a new translation from Greek into Latin printed in 1505), and undoubtedly benefited from the involvement of John Dee who not only wrote the ‘very fruitfull preface’ but contributed many annotations and additional theorems. ‘This Preface, which set out systematically the many derivatives and practical applications of arithmetic and geometry... established Dee's intellectual leadership among English mathematical practitioners for three generations or more’ (Taylor). The printing by John Day (1522-1584) of such a large folio, complete with its folding overslips, was a monumental task, and his portrait is included both on the colophon and possibly as the bearded figure of Mercury at the foot of the title-page. The overslips were originally printed as six bifolia bound in at the end. STC 10560; Thomas-Stanford 41.
Folio (312 x 210mm). With final blank. Title within an allegorical woodcut border, showing Time bringing Truth and Antiquity to light [McKerrow & Ferguson 99], geometrical diagrams throughout, 37 in Book XI with overslips, woodcut initials and ornaments, portrait of John Day at end (lacking folding letterpress 'Groundplat', some light staining and marginal soiling, two leaves heavily browned). 17th-century calf. Provenance: some early annotations – Roger Kenyon (c.1627-1698; inscription on title recording purchase from Thomas Braithwaite of Skerton [Lancashire]) – George Kenyon of Peel, Esqr (d.1780; bookplate).
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