Asher Rare Books

First edition of an Italian work on physics in the wake of Galileo's trial

ROSSETTI, Donato. Antignome fisico-matematiche con il nuovo orbe, e sistema terrestre.
Livorno, Giovanni Vincenzo Bonfigli, 1667. 4to. With 66 woodcut diagrams and other illustrations in text. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment, with 2 fastenings made from loops of braided cord on the front cover but only traces of thongs on the back. XII, 179, [1] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Astronomy & Cosmography Italy Mathematics Optics & Perspective Physics & Chemistry

Robert Smith's influential theories on light and optics together in the first edition of an illustrated textbook for university students

[SMITH, Robert and others]. The elementary parts of Dr. Smith's compleat system of opticks, selected and arranged for the use of students at the universities: to which are added in the form of notes some explanatory propositions from other authors.
Cambridge, printed by J. Archdeacon, 1778. Large 4to (27 x 20.5 cm). With 17 numbered, folding engraved plates. Contemporary gold-tooled brown sprinkled calf, gold-tooled red morocco spine label, gold-tooled board edges. VI, [9], [1 blank], 119, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 6,000

Optics & Perspective School & Textbooks Science UK - United Kingdom

An early mention of Australia and a window into early 17th-century Spanish daily life

SUAREZ DE FIGUEROA, Christobal (Thomaso GARZONI). Plaza universal de todas ciencias, y artes, parte traduzida de Toscano, y parte compuesta por el doctor Christoval Suearez de Figueroa.
Perpignan, Luis Roure, 1630 (colophon: 1629). 4to. With title printed in woodcut border with large woodcut coat of arms; interesting woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces. Contemporary mottled calf. [8], 379, [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 6,500

Art & Art History Australia Book History, Printing & Typography Dictionaries & Encyclopedias Medicine & Pharmacy (17th Century) Optics & Perspective Science Spain Technology

Rare, richly illustrated 17th-century guide to chiromancy: the practice of fortune-telling through the study of the palm (palm reading)

[TAISNIER, Jean (?)]. La science curieuse, ou traité de la chyromance, récueilly des plus graves autheurs que ont traité de cette matiere, & plus exactement recherché qu'il n'a esté cy-devant par aucun autre.
Paris, Francois Clousier, 1665. 4to (21.5 x 16.5 cm). Illustrated with 90 engraved plates (9 showing 1 full-page hand each, 1 table and 80 showing 16 smaller hands each, with the relevant lines for reading palms). With 1 woodcut decorated initial, and several woodcut head- and tailpieces. Contemporary mottled calf, sewn on 5 supports, gold-tooled board edges, gold-tooled spine with the title lettered in gold. [1], [1 blank], [6], 212 pp. Full description

€ 2,950

Astrology & Occult

One of the earliest instructions on the use of glasses for all sorts of viewing at all distances

THOMIN, Marc Mitouflet. Traité d'optique mechanique, dans lequel on donne les règles & les proportions qu'il faut observer pour faire toutes sortes de lunettes d'approche, microscopes simples & composés, & autres ouvrages qui dépendent de l'art. Avec une instruction sur l'usage des lunettes ou conserves pour toutes sortes de vûes.
Paris, Jean Baptiste Coignard, Antoine Boudet, 1749. 8vo. With an engraved vignette on the title page, 4 folding engraved plates showing perspectival and optical diagrams and illustrations of perspectival and optical instruments, incl. a camera obscura. Further with woodcut decorated initials, head- and tailpieces. Modern half marbled calf. XII, 372, [3], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Optics & Perspective

Gaspard Monge's descriptive geometry for artists

VALLÉE, Louis Léger. Traité de la géométrie descriptive.
Paris, Mme Ve Courcier, 1819. 2 volumes (a text and an atlas volume). Large 4to. With a lithographed portrait of Gaspard Monge in the text volume, an engraved title to the atlas volume, and 60 engraved plates (3 double-page, 57 full-page) with illustrations of perspectival projections by Ambroise Tardieu after designs by the author. Contemporary gold-tooled quarter green morocco. XX, 355, [1 blank]; 8 pp. + 60 engraved plates. Full description

€ 2,250

Art & Art History Mathematics Optics & Perspective

A new theory on the light in the eye

VALLÉE, Louis Léger. Théorie de l'oeil. Première partie. Nota. Cette première partie compose un volume à part; la seconde partie paraîtra sous une autre forme.
Paris, J. B. Ballière, 1844-1846. Large 8vo. With 94 illustrations of perspective and the working of light in the eye on 6 large folding plates, engraved by Marlier after designs by the author. Modern half red morocco. LXXV, [1 blank], 456 pp. Full description

€ 1,000

Optics & Perspective

First edition of the first monograph about Sebastien Le Clerc

VALLEMONT, Pierre le Lorrain de. Eloge de Mr. Le Clerc, chevalier romain, dessinateur, et graveur ordinair du cabinet du roi: avec le catalogue de ses ouvrages; Et des réflexions sur quelques-uns des principaux.
Paris, Nicolas Caillou and Jean Musier, 1715. Small 8vo (ca. 16 x 10 cm). With an engraved frontispiece, an engraved headpiece, a woodcut headpiece, and two decorated woodcut initials.Contemporary gold-tooled mottled brown calf, with the title lettered in gold on the spine, gold-tooled board edges, marbled edges, marbled endpapers. [8], 223, [4], [5 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Art & Art History Bibliography & Biography Optics & Perspective

The basics of perspective

VERGNAUD, Armand Denis. Manuel de perspective, du dessinateur et du peintre, contenant les élémens de géométrie indispensables au tracé de la perspective, la perspective linéaire et aérienne, et l'étude du dessin et de la peinture spécialement appliquée au paysage.
Paris, Roret, 1825. 12mo. With 108 figures and illustrations on 8 folding engraved plates. Modern gold-tooled beige paper over boards, with a red morocco author and title label on the spine, lettered in gold, brown sprinkled edges. [4], 229, [1] pp. Full description

€ 650

Art & Art History Optics & Perspective

Perspective and Scheele's green: teaching the basics of painting

VERGNAUD, Armand Denis. Manuel de perspective, du dessinateur et du peintre, contenant les élémens de géométrie indispensables au tracé de la perspective, la perspective linéaire et aérienne, et l'étude du dessin et de la peinture spécialement appliquée au paysage.
Paris, Roret (colophon: imprimerie de Crapelet), 1826. 12mo. With 108 figures and illustrations on 8 folding engraved plates. Contemporary gold tooled mottled half calf. [1], [1 blank], 11, [1 blank], 260, 12 pp. Full description

€ 500