Byrne, Oliver
The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid
£5,544
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 07 February 2024 from 10:00 GMT
Description
in which Coloured Diagrams and Symbols are used instead of Letters for the Greater Ease of Learners. London: William Pickering, 1847. First edition, 4to (24 x 19cm), xxix 268 pp., original boards, green linen backstrip, printed label to front board, illustrated throughout with colour-printed diagrams in red, blue and yellow, criblé woodcut initials, binding somewhat worn, short split to front joint, a few bumps to extremities, contents spotted, pencilled annotations to p. 45, a few gatherings unopened [McLean, Victoria Book Design, p. 51]
Footnote
A masterpiece of Victorian book design, considered 'one of the oddest and most beautiful books of the whole century' (McLean). Copies are also encountered in publisher's cloth bindings in various colours. All proceeds from the sale of this lot are to be donated to West Norfolk Deaf Association.