Oughtred, William | Trigonometria, London, 1657, contemporary paneled calf, first edition

Oughtred, William

Trigonometria: hoc est, modus computandi triangulorum latera & angulos, ex canone mathematico traditus & demonstratus. London: R. & L.W. Leybourn, impensis Thomas Johnson, 1657

First edition.

This work was most likely written about 1618, but not published until 1657, edited by Richard Stokes and Arthur Haughton. It was in this book that the abbreviations sin and tan were introduced. An English edition of the present work would follow within the same year. 

The general title of this copy is the issue with line 6 of title beginning "Collectus". The second part of this work is Oughtred's Canones sinuum, tangentium, secantium: et logarithmorum pro sinubus et tangentibus, which has a separate title page and signatures.

2 vols in 1, 4to (185 x 142 mm). Woodcut in-text diagrams, charts, initial, errata stub tipped in to A5v, divisional title page on 2A1r; lacking engraved frontispiece portrait on A5v, here supplied from a different work of Oughtred's tipped in; light toning to upper margins, the occasional spot and stain. Contemporary paneled calf, spine in six compartments with raised bands, blue morocco lettering piece gilt, edges speckled red; rebacked, worn, upper cover nearly detached.

REFERENCES

ESTC R234400; USTC 3138687; Wing O589

PROVENANCE

St Patrick College’s Library Stamp (verso to title) — Robert S. Dunham (acquired from Heller Booksellers in 1972; sold at Sotheby's, 11 December 1993, lot 723 (part))