Beschreibung:

FINÉ, Oronce. Protomathesis . Paris: Gerard Morrhy for himself and Jean Pierre, 1532.
FINÉ, Oronce. Protomathesis . Paris: Gerard Morrhy for himself and Jean Pierre, 1532. Four parts in one volume, 2 o (377 x 246 mm). Roman and italic types. 218 leaves. Title within architectonic border by Lassere after Finé, 284 woodcuts by Finé (280 blocks, 4 repeats), of which 4 are full-page (including two of the repeated blocks), 15 ten-line and 72 four-line historiated woodcut initials, 2 woodcut head-pieces, woodcut strip-borders surrounding first page of dedication (AA2r), Morrhy device (Renouard 819). (Some mostly marginal worming in the first and last quires, ink splatter on T7v.) Contemporary French calf over pasteboard, roll-tooled in blind, spine painted for monastic shelving (joints cracked, some wear at corners); red half morocco slipcase. Provenance : Jesuit College, Augsburg (inscription on title); acquired from E.P. Goldschmidt, 1973. FIRST COLLECTED EDITION and first printing of much of the writing of Finé. The four sections discuss arithmetic, geometry, cosmography and horology. The section on cosmography is scientifically the most important, reflecting Finé's status as one of the most important cartographers of the sixteenth century. The verso of the title-page states that Finé was responsible for both the text and its woodcuts, which include outline diagrams, views of surveying operations, scientific instruments. One of these latter is the clepsydra, or water-clock, invented by Finé. A series of woodcut initials includes a self-portrait of the author on R6v. Adams F-477; Brun 206; Mortimer French 225; Houzeau & Lancaster 2380; Stillwell Science 838.