Creator
Tycho Brahe
Title
Astronomiae instauratae progymnasmata. Quorum haec prima pars de restitutione motuum solis & lunae stellarumque inerrantium tractat. Et praeterea de admiranda nova stella anno 1572 exorta luculenter agit.
Publisher
Uraniborg & Prague,
Date
1603.
Description
Contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, with the arms on covers in blind of the city of Breslau or Wroclaw in Silesia, Poland on both covers, eight chased brass corners, and two original clasps and catches.
Provenance: Count Pál Teleki (1897–1941), former prime minister of Hungary.
This copy is the first edition and very rare second issue of Brahe’s most important work, with numerous contemporary annotations. Brahe was the last major astronomer to work without the aid of a telescope. His “Astronomiae instauratae progymnasmata was produced in 1602 by the author’s own press at Uraniborg, and only a small number were printed for dedication purposes. It contains important investigations on the new star of 1572 which Brahe had discovered in Cassiopeia. This discovery led to far-reaching consequences in the history of astronomy as this work became the foundation on which Kepler, and later Newton, built their astronomical systems.” (Sparrow, Milestones of Science, 12.)
“‘Tycho possesses the best observations and consequently, as it were, the material for the erection of a new structure … He lacks only the architect who uses all this according to a plan. For, even though he also possesses a rather happy talent and true architectural ability, still he was hindered by the diversity of the phenomena as well as by the fact that the truth lies hidden exceedingly deep within them. Now old age steals upon him, weakening his intellect and other faculties or, after a few years, will so weaken them that it will be difficult for him to accomplish everything alone.’ With this insight, Kepler came to understand the task that lay before him. He considered himself summoned as the architect who should erect the new structure ...” (Caspar, Kepler, 102–3.) “Tycho began printing his principal work at his Uraniborg observatory on the island of Hveen, but the ‘Exercises in the Reform of Astronomy’ was finally published posthumously at Prague in 1602 with an appendix by Kepler.” (Gingerich, Rara Astronomica, 24.)
Provenance: Count Pál Teleki (1897–1941), former prime minister of Hungary.
This copy is the first edition and very rare second issue of Brahe’s most important work, with numerous contemporary annotations. Brahe was the last major astronomer to work without the aid of a telescope. His “Astronomiae instauratae progymnasmata was produced in 1602 by the author’s own press at Uraniborg, and only a small number were printed for dedication purposes. It contains important investigations on the new star of 1572 which Brahe had discovered in Cassiopeia. This discovery led to far-reaching consequences in the history of astronomy as this work became the foundation on which Kepler, and later Newton, built their astronomical systems.” (Sparrow, Milestones of Science, 12.)
“‘Tycho possesses the best observations and consequently, as it were, the material for the erection of a new structure … He lacks only the architect who uses all this according to a plan. For, even though he also possesses a rather happy talent and true architectural ability, still he was hindered by the diversity of the phenomena as well as by the fact that the truth lies hidden exceedingly deep within them. Now old age steals upon him, weakening his intellect and other faculties or, after a few years, will so weaken them that it will be difficult for him to accomplish everything alone.’ With this insight, Kepler came to understand the task that lay before him. He considered himself summoned as the architect who should erect the new structure ...” (Caspar, Kepler, 102–3.) “Tycho began printing his principal work at his Uraniborg observatory on the island of Hveen, but the ‘Exercises in the Reform of Astronomy’ was finally published posthumously at Prague in 1602 with an appendix by Kepler.” (Gingerich, Rara Astronomica, 24.)
Source
Martin J. Gross