CASSINI, Giovanni Domenico.

[Drop-title]: Martis circa Axem Proprium Revolubilis Observationes Bononiae...

> click here to see the full size image.

Two finely engraved plates. [3] leaves of text (lacking the fourth leaf, a blank). Small folio, attractive antique green morocco, panelled in gilt. [Bologna: HH. de Ducciis, 1666]. First edition of an extremely rare book; OCLC locates no copy in America. Cassini (1625-1712), was the first of a family of distinguished astronomers instrumental in directing the activities of the French school of astronomy until the Revolution. He was one of the greatest observers of his time. In 1664, “a new and fertile direction now opened up for Cassini’s observations. Through his friendship with the famous Roman lensmakers Giuseppe Campani and Eustachio Divini, Cassini, beginning in 1664, was able to obtain from them powerful celestial telescopes of great focal length. He used these instruments — very delicate and extremely accurate for the time — with great skill, and made within several years a remarkable series of observations on the planetary surfaces, which led him to important discoveries…At the beginning of 1666 he observed the spots on Mars and investigated the rotation of that planet, whose period he calculated at 24h 40m (three minutes less than the value presently accepted).”–D.S.B., III, p. 101. The fine plates depict the spots on Mars. Fine copy. ❧ Lalande, p. 266. Riccardi, I, 278.

• USD 6,500.00 > другие валюты
• номер заказа: HillBibl-1914

• продавец: Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (USA)