Beschreibung:

EUCLID (fl. c. 300 B.C.) Euclid's Elements of Geometry. In XV books: with a supplement of divers propositions and corollaries. To which is added, a treatise of regular solids, by Campane and Flussas. Likewise Euclid's Data: and Marinus his preface ... published by ... John Leeke and George Searle . London: R. & W. Leybourn for G. Sawbridge, 1661.
EUCLID (fl. c. 300 B.C.) Euclid's Elements of Geometry. In XV books: with a supplement of divers propositions and corollaries. To which is added, a treatise of regular solids, by Campane and Flussas. Likewise Euclid's Data: and Marinus his preface ... published by ... John Leeke and George Searle . London: R. & W. Leybourn for G. Sawbridge, 1661. 2° (286 x 192mm). Folding letterpress table 'The Ground-Plat of the mathematical preface of Mr. John Dee', woodcut diagrams, initials, head- and tailpieces. (Folding table with short split with loss to five words, neatly repaired, and light soiling mainly to blank verso.) Modern calf by Marc Ollivier, gilt spine, red morocco gilt spine label (extremities only faintly rubbed). Provenance : Gilbert Gerard (17th-century inscriptions to title, with price of -/18/-, and on dedication) -- Harrison D. Horblit (booklabel) -- Comte Arnaud de Vitry (full-page ex-libris bound in; sale Sotheby's 10 April 2002, lot 322). FIRST ENGLISH EDITION TO CONTAIN EUCLID'S DATA . The present work reprints John Dee's preface to Henry Billingsley's 1570 English translation of Euclid, 'The most influential of all Dee's published works' (ODNB - see previous lot). In it, Dee praises the study of mathematics and its application to both the natural and supernatural, although he defends himself at some length from the charge of conjuring. 'His concept of "Archemastrie", which "procedeth by Experiences" ... has been seen by some as foreshadowing the experimental science of the next century, but he also hints at magical interests and practices under this very heading. Wing E-3398.