Kepler, Johannes | De cometis libelli tres, Augsburg, 1619–1620, first edition of Kepler's principal treatise on comets, a magnificent copy

Kepler, Johannes

De cometis libelli tres. Augsburg: Andreas Apergeri, 1619–20

First edition of Kepler's principal treatise on comets; a magnificent copy.

Kepler's detailed observations of the bright comets of 1607 and 1608 were later used by Edmund Halley when he calculated the 76-year periodicity of the 1607 comet.

3 parts in one volume, 4to (199 x 149 mm). Two folding woodcut diagrams, 3 folding tables, five textual woodcut figures, separate title leaves for Books II and III, with the final blank; washed, light browning on title-page and dedication leaves, forecorners lightly stained. Modern half vellum, paste-paper over boards.

REFERENCES

Caspar 60; Honeyman sale 5:1798; Rocco/Cinti 65; SDSU/Kenney 94; USTC 1943022 (listing just one institutional copy)

PROVENANCE

Robert S. Dunham (acquired from R. King in 1949, pencil acquisition note; Sotheby's New York, 11 December 1993, lot 714)