EUCLID; CLAVIUS, Christophorus - FIRST EDITION Euclidis Elementorum libri XV. Accessit XVI. - 1574

EUCLID; CLAVIUS, Christophorus. Euclidis Elementorum libri XV. Accessit XVI. De solidorum regularium comparatione. Omnes perspicuis demonstrationibus, accuratisque scholiis illustrati. Rome, Vincenzo Accolti, 1574.

The is the first edition of Christoph Clavius's justly celebrated commentary on Euclid, one of the foundational mathematical books of the Renaissance and among the most influential editions of the Elements ever published.

E. J. Dijksterhuis — “Clavius’s edition of Euclid became the standard textbook of geometry for more than a century.”

Michael J. Crowe — “The most influential edition of Euclid in the Renaissance was that of Christoph Clavius.”

William A. Wallace — Clavius was “the most influential mathematical educator of the late sixteenth century.”

In short: “Clavius did for Euclid what later commentators did for Aristotle: he created the authoritative Renaissance version through which generations learned the discipline.”


Thick 8vo. Contemporary-style half tan calf, spine with raised bands. [40] ff. (epistle, Ad lectorem, prolegomena and index), 331 ff. (662 pp.). Fine architectural woodcut title, with numerous geometric diagrams throughout the text.

Contains the 13 books of Euclid's Elements, as well as three suprious books. Book 14 is traditionally attributed to Hipsicles of Alexandria; book 15, once incorrectly attributed to Hipsicles, has been attributed to several men; and book 16 is by François de Foix. Includes index.

A clean copy, with defect to top of spine but otherwise VG. Beautifully printed and very clean, excepting for light old water stain in corners of leaves 1 to 10, and 289 to the end. The Prolegomena has similar lower corner stains on some pages, but always light, and the opening leaves too (see photos)

The second edition is currently offered by Rootenberg for 2,699 Euros. A third edition by Asher for 2,500 Euros. NO first editions currently on offer.