Brahe, Tycho | Historia coelestis …, Augsburg, 1666, first edition

Brahe, Tycho

Historia coelestis ex libris commentarlis manuscriptis observationum vicennallum. Augsburg: Simon Utzschneiderum, 1666

First edition of Brahe's vast astronomical observations, the basis for Kepler's publication of the Rudolphine Tables in 1627. Brahe's observations, however, remained unpublished until the Jesuit Albert Curtz (under the pseudonym Lucius Barrettus) edited the present edition. The edition had been planned and a prospectus published as early as 1656, but only appeared ten years later, with assistance from the Emperor Leopold, who is therefore the last of the Habsburg rulers to figure in the handsome frontispiece. Unfortunately, the edition is based on an incomplete and secondary manuscript, ''presented in so mutilated and distorted a shape as to be well-nigh useless … scarcely a column which is not full of errors …'' (Dreyer, p .373).

2 Parts in one volume, folio (311 x 189 mm). Large folding engraved frontispiece by Kilian depicting Hapsburg emperors, 2 engraved plates (one of Brahe's statue, bound after p. XCIV, the other of Uraniborg bound after CVIII, numerous woodcut illustrations and figures in-text; both plates trimmed, creased and probably supplied from another copy, the plate of Brahe's statue repaired with minor loss. Blindstamped pigskin in period style, clasps, blue edges; clasps starting to rust and becoming fragile.

REFERENCES

USTC 2628426; VD17 23:641871K