Clüver, Detlev | First edition, exploring the origins of the Earth

Clüver, Detlev

Geologia sive philosophemata de genesi ac structura globi terreni, Oder, natürliche Wissenschaft von Erschaffung und Bereitung der Erd-Kugel. Hamburg: Friedrich Conrad Gräfflinger for Gottfried Liebezeit, 1700

4to (190 x 160 mm). Woodcut initials, typographical headpieces, 4 (of 8) folding engraved plates depicting astronomical orbits, wanting plates I to IV; a few spots, some pages foxed and toned, manuscript annotations, small marginal burn hole to K2, holes to M2 affecting a few words, paper flaw to leaf Ff1 not affecting text. Contemporary vellum over boards with yap edges, spine with manuscript title; lightly soiled, head of spine with loss revealing binder’s waste.

First edition of mathematician and philosopher Detlev Clüver’s exploration of the origins of the Earth, which prompted opposition from critics including Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.

REFERENCES

BL STC German XVII c., C738; Poggendorff I, 458

PROVENANCE

Earls of Macclesfield (armorial bookplate to upper pastedown, armorial stamp in blind to upper title page; Sotheby’s London, 10 June 2004, “The Library of the Earls of Macclesfield removed from Shirburn Castle, Part 2: Science A-C,” lot 543)