Milestones of Science Books

RICCIOLI, Giambattista.

Almagestum novum astronomiam veterem novamque complectens observationibus aliorum et propriis.

Bologna: Heirs of V. Benatius, 1651.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #003207

Volume one (all published) in 2 volumes, Folio (357 x 243 mm). [12], xlvii [1], 763 (i.e. 771) [1]; [6], xviii, 675 [1] pp. Engraved frontispiece by F. Curtus in each volume, engraved arms on dedication leaves, 2 fine engraved double-page lunar maps by Domenico Fontana after Francesco Maria Grimaldi, each mounted on a guard, numerous woodcut diagrams in text. Bound in uniform contemporary calf, spines with 5 raised bands, faint gilt-lettering and -tooling, boards with blind-tooled decorative border and ruling, red-dyed edges (hinges split but cords holding, some rubbing and light soiling). Text generally crisp and bright, very light dampstaining to blank margin of a few leaves, two clean tears in first frontispiece backed with paper on blank verso, worm-track in first 3 leaves of vol. II, brown stain at top inner margin of about a third of vol. II. Provenance: Peter and Margarete Braune (bookplate on front pastedown). A fine, clean copy. ----

Linda Hall, The face of the moon, 7; Cinti 124; Riccardi I (2), 371; De Backer & Sommervogel VI:1798; Houzeau-L. 9223; Norman 1826. - FIRST EDITION of one of the most important anti-Copernican works: "Riccioli's scientific career epitomized the conflict between the old astronomy and the new: as a Jesuit committed to church doctrine, Riccioli was among the most vehement opponents of Copernican and Galilean theory, but as astronomer, Riccioli recognized that Copernican theory provided the simplest and best mathematical model of the solar system" (Norman). "Riccioli designed a series of experiments by which he hoped to disprove Galileo's conclusions, but instead he ratified them" (DSB). This work was the first to state that no water existed on the moon. "The Riccioli moon map is historically of great importance, since it provided the basis for the system of lunar nomenclature still in use. It is more properly referred to as the Riccioli/Grimaldi map, since the Jesuit optician Francesco Grimaldi was apparently responsible for the map itself, while fellow-Jesuit Riccioli invented the names (and wrote the book in which the map appeared). Thus the Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis) traversed by the Apollo astronauts acquired its name here, as Mare Tranquillitatis, as did such prominent lunar craters as Plato, Ptolemaeus, and Tycho" (Linda Hall, The face of the moon, 7). - Visit our website for additional images and information.

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