Optics.- Haytham (Ibn al) [known as Alhazen]. Opticae Thesaurus. Alhazeni Arabis libri septem, nunc primùm editi...Item Vitellonis Thuringopoloni libri X..., edited by Friedrich Risner, 2 parts in 1, first edition, collation: [alpha]⁴ a-z⁶ zz⁶ *⁴ A-Z⁶ Aa-Pp⁶ Qq⁴ Rr⁶, with blank [alpha]4, final f. blank except for woodcut printer's device verso, title with woodcut printer's device, large woodcut of sea- and townscape with animals and a rainbow to title verso, repeated to divisional title to part 2, numerous woodcut diagrams, including anatomy of the eye to a3v repeated to H2, woodcut initials, couple very small and early ink markings to title, damp-staining to fore-edge of first few ff. and final c.70 leaves, foxing and browning throughout to varying degrees, 18th century half calf, rebacked and recornered, preserving most of original gilt backstrip with red and blue leather labels, covers rubbed with some wear to extremities, housed in a drop-back box with morocco spine label, folio (335 x 220mm.), Basel, E. Episcopius & heirs of N. Episcopius, August, 1572.

⁂ First edition of this influential work on optics and vision by Ibn al-Haytham, also known as Alhazen. The work was translated from the Arabic no later than 1200 as De Aspectibus, and "became the foundation of Western optical science through Witelo, Roger Bacon, Peckham and Kepler" (Becker). The first part concludes with De crepusculis & nubium ascensionibus (Treatise on Twilight), ascribed to Alhazen but probably the work of the 12th century professor al-Jayyani. The second part contains the Perspectiva of 13th century Polish scholar Witelo, a commentary on Alhazen's work first published in 1535.

Provenance: Bibliotheca Opticoria of David L DiLaura (bookplate).

Literature: Adams A745; Becker catalogue 8; VD16 H 693; Wellcome 3044.