Lot 517
Geometry.- Euclid. The Elements of Geometrie, the Christ-Church-John Rylands copy of the first edition of the first complete English translation, by John Daye, 1570.
Hammer Price: £30,000
Description
Geometry.- Euclid. The Elements of Geometrie, translated by Sir Henry Billingsley, preface by John Dee, first edition of the first complete English translation, title within ornate woodcut allegorical border depicting Time bringing Truth and Antiquity to light, and with portraits of Ptolemy, Strabo, and others, numerous woodcut diagrams, woodcut historiated or decorative initials and tail-pieces and a large portrait of John Day above colophon, lacking folding letterpress 'Groundplat', overslips, and final blank, 1p. of early 18th century notes regarding the work mounted on front inner cover, title lower corner with some chipping (just touching border) and an ink inscription showing through from verso, QQq3 small hole within text at foot, with loss of several letters, SSs2 part of lower blank corner torn away, sigs. AAA and BBB some loss to upper margins, a few short tears, some spotting and light staining (including the odd ink stain, the most notable to upper edge), lightly browned, 17th century panelled calf, spine in compartments and with later, but to style, red morocco label, upper cover with hasp mark where formely chained, joints starting, but holding firm, corners little worn, some staining, marked and rubbed, [STC 10560; Thomas-Stanford 41; cf. PMM 25], a very good copy, folio, by John Daye, 1570.
⁂ The Christ Church-John Rylands copy. John Dee's preface is considered by many to be his most important published work. It outlines the practical applications of Euclid's work, lays the foundations for later experimental science and hints at the use of magic and the supernatural in conjunction with the natural. In addition, Dee also contributed additional theorems and annotations. The translator Billingsley became Lord Mayor of London in 1596.
Provenance: Ink inscription to verso of title recording the gift of the book to Christ Church College, Oxford by nine students on receiving their Master of Arts degrees in 1587; John Rylands Library (large engraved bookplate dated 1894 to front free endpaper and small label at end recording its withdrawal from stock April, 1988); sold Sotheby's 14th April, 1988 to Heath for £3,850 and again Sotheby's 1989 to Pearl for £1210.
Description
Geometry.- Euclid. The Elements of Geometrie, translated by Sir Henry Billingsley, preface by John Dee, first edition of the first complete English translation, title within ornate woodcut allegorical border depicting Time bringing Truth and Antiquity to light, and with portraits of Ptolemy, Strabo, and others, numerous woodcut diagrams, woodcut historiated or decorative initials and tail-pieces and a large portrait of John Day above colophon, lacking folding letterpress 'Groundplat', overslips, and final blank, 1p. of early 18th century notes regarding the work mounted on front inner cover, title lower corner with some chipping (just touching border) and an ink inscription showing through from verso, QQq3 small hole within text at foot, with loss of several letters, SSs2 part of lower blank corner torn away, sigs. AAA and BBB some loss to upper margins, a few short tears, some spotting and light staining (including the odd ink stain, the most notable to upper edge), lightly browned, 17th century panelled calf, spine in compartments and with later, but to style, red morocco label, upper cover with hasp mark where formely chained, joints starting, but holding firm, corners little worn, some staining, marked and rubbed, [STC 10560; Thomas-Stanford 41; cf. PMM 25], a very good copy, folio, by John Daye, 1570.
⁂ The Christ Church-John Rylands copy. John Dee's preface is considered by many to be his most important published work. It outlines the practical applications of Euclid's work, lays the foundations for later experimental science and hints at the use of magic and the supernatural in conjunction with the natural. In addition, Dee also contributed additional theorems and annotations. The translator Billingsley became Lord Mayor of London in 1596.
Provenance: Ink inscription to verso of title recording the gift of the book to Christ Church College, Oxford by nine students on receiving their Master of Arts degrees in 1587; John Rylands Library (large engraved bookplate dated 1894 to front free endpaper and small label at end recording its withdrawal from stock April, 1988); sold Sotheby's 14th April, 1988 to Heath for £3,850 and again Sotheby's 1989 to Pearl for £1210.