Philip Melanchthon - Initia Doctrinae Physicae - 1550

Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560)

Initia Doctrinae Physicae.

You are bidding on a very rare work, printed in Wittenberg in the edition by Johann Lufft, from the year 1550.

Released in a second edition, in which Melanchthon for the first time speaks positively about Copernicus’s work; the first part is often accompanied by contemporary hand-written annotations; signatures on the title page and the front free fly-leaves; also the last two blank leaves belonging to the book block are described with marginalia.

Bound in a wonderful pigskin leather binding of the period over wooden boards with blind stamping as well as the original book clasps.

Collation: 206 numbered leaves

Marginalia by more than one contemporary hand suggest that this copy was used as a textbook. It appeared alongside Melanchthon’s lectures on natural philosophy at the University of Wittenberg. While he rejected Copernicus in the first edition (1549), the great reformer changed his stance in this revised version of the text.

Handwritten ex Libris of the professor, astronomer, historian and bibliophile Owen Gingerich

CONDITION: Very nice and complete copy with light signs of wear, good binding, cover rubbed. Interior somewhat foxed, title with slight edge wear.