Lot 529
Euclid
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographss | 10 May 2007
Description
The elements of geometrie of the most auncient philosopher Euclide of Megara. Faithfully (now first) translated into the English toung, by H. Billingsley... with a very fruitfull preface made by M.I. Dee. [London: John Daye, 1570], folio, title-page within decorative border, printer's device on final verso, woodcut head- and tail-pieces, woodcut diagrams, contemporary calf, lacking a1 of Preface, half of the folding Groundplat leaf, overslips to Booke XI (issued as a set of 60 on 12 leaves) and final blank leaf EEE4, title, portrait and some initials crudely hand-coloured, title soiled, repaired and torn with loss of imprint and woodcut at foot, two leaves of Translator to the Reader soiled and repaired, last two leaves repaired with loss of text and woodcut frame of Dee's portrait, waterstained and soiled throughout, heavily at beginning and end, two single wormholes occasionally affecting sidenotes, rebacked, sides worn, manuscript poem on title verso
Footnote
Note: First edition of the first English translation of Euclid. STC 10560; Steck III.79; Thomas-Stanford, Euclid's Elements, 41
Provenance: J. Belchier, 18th century inscription on title;