Milestones of Science Books

STEELL, Robert.

A treatise of conic sections.

Dublin: George Grierson, 1723.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002794

8vo (217 x 132 mm). [10], 103 [1] pp., including dedication leaf, woodcut device to title, initials, head- and tailpieces and ornaments, 7 folding engraved plates. The errata leaf (pi)5 pasted to verso of final preliminary leaf (pi)4. Contemporary calf, boards with blind-stamped decoration, spine with 5 raised bands (spine label gone, extremities rubbed, corners scuffed, upper hinge split but cords holding, spine ends chipped). Text and plates little browned, occasional minor spotting, some dust-soiling (stronger to title- and dedication leaf), little fraying and creasing of 2 plates, tear without loss to lower gutter of title page. Provenance: David Broughton (contemporary ownership inscription to front pastedown). Still very good, wide-margined copy printed on thick paper. ----

FIRST EDITION, exceptionally rare, of Robert Steell's treatise of conic sections. Steell, an Irish mathematician, dedicated his book to the Provost, Fellows, and Scholars of the College of Dublin. "Steell made no apologies for printing theorems and proofs attributed to other mathematicians since these theorems formed the basis of much of his own original work which followed." (F. Howard, Edward Worth Library, Dublin). This book is very rare. We can only trace the Macclesfield copy, sold at Sothebys in 2005. - Visit our website for additional images and information.

Price: 2,800 €  *  convert currency