Milestones of Science Books

DÜRER, Albrecht.

Underweysung der messung, mit dem Zirckel un richtscheyt in Linien ebnen unnd gantzen corporen.

Nürnberg: [Hieronymus Andreas Formschneider], 1525.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #003591

Folio (281 x 203 mm). 89 (of 90) unnumbered leaves, lacking final blank Q4 only. Signatures: A-N⁶ O-Q⁴ (-Q4). Numerous woodcuts of geometrical diagrams and architectural renderings, two woodcuts on P4 verso and Q1 recto extended with pasted-in folding slips to demonstrate a point in perspective, two figures on C5 verso and K1 recto printed on pasted-in cancel slips correcting the original figures; two half-page woodcuts showing artists using Dürer's drafting apparatus for drawing in perspective, the second with Dürer's monogram and dated 1525 (as are 2 of the triumphal column cuts). Roman and gothic alphabets. Bound in 20th-century crushed black morocco, gilt-lettered spine with 2 raised bands, upper edge gilt, housed in custom-made slip-case. Pages generally crisp and clean with only very little age-toning, occasional minor brown spotting, oversized woodcut diagrams on H2v, H3r, O4v, P2v and P3r shaved a few mm at head as often. Provenance: Mark Lansburgh; Robin Satinsky (bookplate "The Robin Collection" to front pastedown). In all a very good copy. ----

PMM 54; Norman 665; Adams D-1057; Bohatta 1; Meder XXVI 1; DSB IV, 259; Brunet II, 912; Stillwell Science 161. - FIRST EDITION of the first of Dürer's theoretical writings to be published, and one of the first mathematical works published in German. Bohatta variant 1b with the title-page including additional 3 lines of smaller text and with imprint " Gedruckt zu Nuremberg,/ Im. 1525. Jar" on last text leaf Q3 recto.
The Underweysung der Messung was the first of Dürer's three theoretical works on art to be published. Conceived as a practical guide to the rules of geometry and principles of perspective for artists, architects, sculptors, stonemasons and other craftsmen, the work introduced to northern Europe a system of projection that had been refined by the artists of the Italian Renaissance. In it Dürer formulated a comprehensive and mathematically sound basis for the realistic depiction of natural objects in space. 'The connexion of the beautiful with the natural, of the work of art with what is correct (i.e. mathematical) was a typical concept of the Renaissance. In the illustration of these principles lies the great historical importa-nte of Dürer's theoretical writings.., they were the foundation of accepted aesthetic dogma until the nineteenth century' (PMM).
"Except for the Geometria Deutsch (ca. 1486-1487), a book of arithmetical rules for builders which Dürer knew and used, the Underweysung der Messung is the first mathematics book in German. With its publication Dürer could claim a place in the front ranks of Renaissance mathematicians" (DSB). - Visit our website to see more images!

Price: 28,000 €