Euclidis - Euclidis Megarensis mathematici clarissimi elementa - 1578

Euclide

Euclidis Megarensis mathematici clarissimi elementa, libris XV. ad germanam geometriae intelligentiam è diversis lapsibus temporis iniuria contractis restituta, Adimpletis praeter maiorum spem, quae hactenus deerant, solidorum regularium conferentiis ac inscriptionibus. Accessit decimussextus liber, de solidorum regularium sibi inuicem inscriptorum collationibus. Novissimè collati sunt decimusseptimus & decimusoctavus, priori editione quodammodo polliciti, de componendorum, inscribendorum, & conferendorum compositorum solidorum inventis, ordine & numero absoluti. Authore D. Francesco Flussate Candalla.

Paris, Jacques du Puys, 1578.

1 folio volume (305 x 201 mm), late 17th century granite calfskin binding, adorned ribbed spine, red morocco title label, speckled edges, an old stamp on the title page (grand séminaire de St Flour), [24]-575-[1] pages (complete). Skilful restorations on the crowns and joints, a transverse tear without lacks, repaired at the time, at the bottom of the title page, thin water stains on the bottom, a small bookworm tunnel on the edge of the bottom margin of the last 13 leaves. In good condition.

A rare and significant second edition published by François de Foix. Added are the 17th and 18th books which were not present in the first edition, published in Paris in 1566: these two books are about regular solids.

François de Foix Comte Candale (1512-1594), a mathematician and alchemist, is best known for his translation and commentary on Euclid. He was among the first to make use of nominal, as opposed to real, definitions, which are now the basis of the modern logic of the accommodation of mathematics. In 1591, he founded the chair of geometry at the University of Bordeaux.

This edition is valuable not only for the accuracy of the text, but also for the typographical elegance and precision of the geometrical figures by Dorat, J. Passerat, Ronsard, Baïf, Desportes, A. Jamyn, etc.

A pleasant copy.