Giovanni Domenico Cassini | Theoriae motus cometae anni MDCLXIV [bound with] Lettere astronomiche..., Rome, 1665, two extremely rare and important first editions in one volume

Giovanni Domenico Cassini

Theoriae motus cometae anni MDCLXIV. Rome: Fabio di Falco, 1665

[bound with:]

Lettere astronomische di Gio: Domenico Cassini al Signor Abbate Ottavio Falconieri sopra il confronto di alcune osservazioni delle comete di questo' anno M.DC.LXIV. Rome: Fabio di Falco, 1665

FIRST EDITIONS, 2 volumes in one, folio (355 x 240 mm). (i) Collation: π² A-[Q]²: 34 leaves plus double-page diagram on unsigned sheet bound between O1 and O2. Woodcut initials and printed ornaments, woodcut mathematical diagrams, a few early manuscript textual corrections in ink; (ii) Collation: [A]-F²: 12 leaves. Woodcut initial. Contemporary carta rustica, leaves uncut. Spotting and browning (heavier in second work)

TWO EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPORTANT FIRST EDITIONS OF EARLY WORKS BY GIOVANNI DOMENICO CASSINI. Having observed the Great Comet of 1664-1665 from Rome, Cassini published his Theoriae motus, dedicating the work to Christina of Sweden, who was living in Rome at the time and had met Cassini himself.

Cassini (1625-1712) was a professor of astronomy at the University of Bologna, and a prominent researcher in the study of the Sun and comets. In the years following the Theoriae motus, Cassini would rise to fame for his observation of surface markings on Jupiter and Mars, which he provided as evidence of the rotation of both planets on their own axes, thus determining their rotation periods with great precision. In 1669, Cassini would leave Bologna for Paris, having been invited by Louis XIV to join the newly-formed Acadèmie Royale des Sciences; two years later, in 1671, he became director of the Observatoire de Paris. Throughout the first half of 1670s, Cassini's studies of Saturn led to his discovery of its four satellites, and in 1675, the division of its rings — hence named the Cassini Division.

A WIDE-MARGINED COPY. This copy of the Lettere astronomische matches the USTC collation; copies are sometimes found, however, with two extra leaves with six tables, which are not featured in this copy.

PROVENANCE:

Eighteenth-century engraved allegorical bookplate by Antonio Visentini with the motto "La felicita delle lettere" (a variant of which appears as the device of eighteenth century Venetian printer Giovanni Battista Pasquale)

LITERATURE:

(i) USTC 1749993 (listing 9 institutional copies, of which just 3 are outside of Italy); OPAC SBN 002562; Riccardi 276; (ii) USTC 1749994 (listing 9 institutional copies); OPAC SBN 002563; Riccardi 277.