Galilei, Galileo, and others | Mathematical Collections and Translations, London, 1661, containing the first vernacular translation of Galileo's Dialogo, the Earl of Airlie's copy

Galilei, Galileo

Mathematical Collections and Translations (ed. Thomas Salusbury). London: William Leybourn, 1661

First published translation into any vernacular language of Galileo's Dialogo and the first—and only—English translation until 1953. Other works included are short works by Galileo, Kepler, and Tartaglia.

In 1664, English historian Thomas Salusbury published the present English collection of Galileo's work, including a translation of the Dialogo titled Systeme of the World, followed by the short but important Epistle to the Grand Dutchesse Mother concerning the Authority of Holy Scripture in Philosophical Controversies (known today as the Letter to Christina), which was only the second work of Galileo's to be published in England. Apart from the two works by Galileo, Salusbury included other translations in volume I of his Collections, including Italian mathematician Benedetto Castelli's works on fluids in motion.

Rare. Most copies were apparently destroyed in the Great Fire. The Brereton-Macclesfield copy, sold by Sotheby's in October 2005 was the only other copy known containing both parts. A second volume, also rare, was published in 1665.

Two parts in one volume, folio (333 x 22 mm). Half-title, 2 general titles, 4 title leaves, 3 dropped-head titles, content leaf, one leaf cancelled, text diagrams (including 5 engravings), 4 engraved folding diagrams, letter dated 1949 from Thomas Sellers of the British Museum regarding the collation of this work laid in; lacking the rare errata leaf (supplied in facsimile), soiling to half-title, two small holes with no significant effect to text, marginal tear on E3 cutting into catchword, a few rust spots, dampstaining and occasional marginal soiling, small wormholes, touching scattered letters in index and part 2. Old mottled calf; scuffed, joints rubbed, a little worming on lower cover.

REFERENCES

Dibner, Heralds 8n; ESTC R19153; Sotheran/Zeitlinger Bibliotheca chemico-mathematica 1:4199; Taylor, Tudor and Stuart 268; Wing S517; SDSU/Kenney 166; USTC 3078243

PROVENANCE

Earls of Airlie (Cortachy Castle shelf-ticket on pastedown) — Robert S. Dunham (acquired from F. Joseph Heller in December 1949, pencil acquisition note to front pastedown; Sotheby's New York, 11 December 1993, lot 766)