RENAISSANCE MATHEMATICS AND MECHANICS

RYFF, W. H. (RIVIUS, WALTHER HERMENIUS).

Der Architectur furnembsten, notwendigsten, angehörigen Mathematischen und Mechanischen künst, eygentlicher bericht, und verstendliche unterrichtung, zu rechtem verstandt der lehz Vitruvii, in drey fürneme Bücher abgetheilet. Als Der newen Perspectiua. I- (III) Buch. Weiteren inhalt des II. und III. Buchs der Geometrischen Büxenmeisterei, und geometrischen Messung, sampt der kurtzen summarien des gantzen begriffs der selbigen unterschidnen theil, findestu hernach nechst der Vozred verzeichnet, und alles mit schönen Figuren für augen gestellet. (In 6 Theilen).

Nürmberg, Gabriel Heyn, 1558.

Folio. Bound in a nice later (around 1840) hcalf. Raised double bands. Gilt spine. Gilt lettering. Marbled endpapers. Stamps on foot of title-page. A sort of frontispiece (full-page) is printed on the verso of the title-page, depicting the Putto as the spirit of architecture.Title-page printed in red and black. Dedication and content (4 unnumb.lvs.) - Geometry & Perspective (Ff I-C ) - Geometrischen Büchsenmeisterei (Ff I-XLVIII.) - Befestigung (Ff I-XLIIII ) - Geometrischen Messung (Ff (4),I-XLVI,(3)) - Wag und Gewicht (Ff I-XVII) - Schnelwagen (Ff I-X) ending with colophon and woodcut printer's device. Having more than 300 (many full- and half page) fine wood-engravings executed by V. Solis, G. Pencz, H. Brosamer and Peter Floetner. Internally in extraordinary fine clean condition with only a few minor scattered brownspots. 3 leaves with a minor repair to upper right corner.

Scarce second edition (the first 1547) of this profusely illustrated encyclopedia of applied Renaissance mathematics and mechanics.
"This rare work, which unknown to Poggendorff, Brunet, Ebert and other bibliographers...is remarkable for its numerous fine woodcuts, is full of suggestions, and would well deserve the attention of the historian of physics, who seems to have quite neglected it, owing probably to its great rarity. In the section on ballistics it is of interest to find that the author assigns a curve to the path of a projectile against the hitherto accepted Aristotelian opinion that the latter travels in a straight line and falls vertically after its energy is expended." (Sotheran). - In the work many measuring- and surveying instruments are described and depicted.
Ryff is well-known for his medical books and the first German translation of Vitruvius.

Wellcome I: 5670 (Ed. 1547). - Adams R,606 (same collation) - Cockle, 661 (Ed. 1547)

Order-nr.: 56142