Lot 297
Fale,Thomas
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs | 09 May 2007
Description
Horologiographia: the art of dialling: teaching an easie and perfect way to make all kinds of dials … London: by Felix Kyngston, 1627, 4to., Black letter, woodcut illustrations of a dial on title, floreated initials throughout, woodcut scientific diagrams and illustrations by Hondius on virtually every page, contemporary limp vellum, later arms on covers, 17th century ex libris and early 19th century armorial stamp on fly, small worm trail in final table, mostly interlinear, general light paper discolouration
Footnote
Note: STC 10680 (3 copies only in USA, including this one, another imperfect, 5 elsewhere). Houzeau and Lancaster 11390. Honeyman had 1633 edition only. Taylor, Math. Practitioners no. 82.
Third edition (first printed in 1593) of the earliest English work devoted to the subject of dials and the author's only known publication. The table of sines which occupies the final unnumbered ll. is probably the earliest specimen (after the first edition.) of a trigonometrical table printed in England. The work includes also instructions for the manufacture and use of other instruments "whereby the houre of the day and night is knowne", e.g. quadrants, "of special use and delight not only for students of the Arts Mechanical, but also for diverse Artificers, Architects, Surveyors of buildings, free-Masons and others".