Preclarissimus liber elementorum Euclidis perspicacissimi in artem Geometrie.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Euclid.

Contributor:

Adelard, of Bath, approximately 1090-approximately 1160.

Campano, da Novara, -1296.

Ratdolt, Erhard, 1447?-1527 or 1528, printer.

Incunable Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Early Venetian Imprint Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Standardized Title:

Elements. Latin

Language:

Greek, Ancient (to 1453)

Latin

Subjects (All):

Mathematics, Greek--Early works to 1800.

Mathematics, Greek.

Geometry--Early works to 1800.

Geometry.

Genre:

Incunabula.

Penn Provenance:

Redgrave, G. R. (Gilbert Richard), b. 1844 (autograph) (bookplate)

Physical Description:

138 unnumbered leaves (the last leaf blank) : illustrations ; 31 cm (folio)

Other Title:

Title from explicit (leaf r7v): Opus elementoru[m] Euclidis Megarensis in geometria[m] arte[m] : In id quoq[ue] Campani [per]spicacissimi Co[m]mentationes

Goff title: Elementa geometria

Fingerprint:

t.t. 3.e. .gi- b.ce (C) 1482 (R)

Place of Publication:

Venetijs impressit : Erhardus ratdolt Augustensis impressor ..., Anno salutis Mcccclxxxij Octauis Calen[das] Iun[ij] [25 May 1482]

Notes:

"Euclides is the author of the first 13 books, Hypsicles of the 14th while the 15th belongs to the school of Isidorus Milesius (Hillard)"--ISTC.

Translated by Adelard of Bath; edited by Campano de Novara. Cf. ISTC.

Title from incipit of text (printed in red) on leaf a2r, which reads: Preclarissimus liber elementorum Euclidis perspicacissimi: in artem Geometrie incipit qua[m]foelicissime.

Imprint from colophon on leaf r7v, which reads: Opus elementoru[m] euclidis megarensis in geometria[m] arte[m] In id quoq[ue] Campani [per]spicacissimi Co[m]mentationes finiu[n]t. Erhardus ratdolt Augustensis impressor solertissimus. venetijs impressit. Anno salutis. M.cccclxxxij. Octauis. Calen[das]. Iun[ii]. Lector. Vale.

Chancery folio. Leaf a3r: 45 lines, plus marginal diagrams; area of text: 206 x 118 (185) mm. Printed headlines beginning on leaf a10r; printed paragraph marks. With signatures; without foliation or catchwords. Woodcut initials and diagrams; decorative woodcut border enclosing text of leaf a2r on three sides (top, left, bottom). In copies printed on parchment leaf a2r lacks this border and an initial space takes the place of an 11-line woodcut initial P; the woodcut initials on leaves a2-a9 also differ from those printed in the paper copies. Cf. GW. Rubrication not called for.

Signatures: a¹⁰ b-r⁸ (leaf r8 blank).

Text of dedication (leaf a1v) printed in black. A variant: text printed in gold. Caption of dedication reads: Erhardus ratdolt Augustensis impressor. Serenissimo alme vrbis venete Principi Ioanni Mocenico .S. A variant reads: Erhardus ratdolt Augustensis impressor Serenissimo Almae vrbis venetae Principi Ioanni Mocenico .S. Lines 4-5 of dedication read: Solebam antea serenissime princeps mecum ipse cogitans admirari quid cause esset ... A variant reads: Solebam antea Serenissime Princeps mecu[m] ipse cogitans admirari quid causae esset ... Cf. GW.

Leaves a2-a9 exist in two settings. In one, on leaf a2r, lines 1-4 read: Preclarissimus liber elementorum Euclidis perspicacissimi: in artem Geometrie incipit qua[m]foelicissime: Punctus est cuius [par]s no[n] est. Linea ist lo[n]gitudo ... In another, on leaf a2r, lines 1-4 read: Preclarissimu[m] opus elemento[rum] Euclidis megare[n]sis vna cu[m] co[m]mentis Campani [per]spicacissimi in arte[m] geometria[m] incipit felici[ter]. Punctus est cuius [par]s non est. Linea est longitudo ... Cf. GW.

Leaf o8r, line 45 ends: perpendiculares a. A variant ends: [per]pendiculares a corau-. Cf. GW.

Local Notes:

Leaf size: 304 x 210 mm.

Penn Libraries copy has a few early ms. notes, corrections to text, and diagrams in brown ink; watermark on blank leaf r8r traced in pencil; modern ms. foliation in pencil in tail outer corner of leaves.

Penn Libraries copy has illustrated bookplate (dated 1894) of Gilbert R. Redgrave affixed to front pastedown and his dated ms. ownership inscription ("Ex libris Gilbert R. Redgrave The Elms Beckenham, Kent. Feb. 1895") followed by a note on the work and its binding ("This is a fine copy of the first illustrated edition of Euclid ... The leatherwork of the cover was designed and executed by me, and the binding is by Lachnsdorf. G.R.R.") in his hand on blank leaf following front free endpaper; on verso of front free endpaper are several bibliographical citations also in Redgrave's hand.

Penn Libraries copy has 2 paper slips affixed to verso of blank leaf preceding back free endpaper and 4 paper slips affixed to back free endpaer, each with bookseller's printed description of another copy of this edition.

Penn Libraries copy bound by Lachnsdorf in full blind-tooled leather; upper board (designed by Gilbert R. Redgrave) has central square panel with geometric instruments surrounded by an architectural border containing title ("EVCLIDES GEOMETRIA"), the whole surrounded by an interlace border; lower board double-ruled in blind; 5 raised, blind-ruled bands on spine; author's name ("EUCLID") stamped in gold on spine; blind-ruled cover-edges and turn-ins; marbled endpapers; all edges gilt.

Penn Libraries copy: text of dedication (leaf a1v) printed in black with caption that reads: Erhardus ratdolt Augustensis impressor. Serenissimo alme vrbis venete Principi Ioanni Mocenico .S. Lines of dedication read: Solebam antea serenissime princeps mecum ipse cogitans admirari quid cause esset ...

Penn Libraries copy contains the first setting of leaves a2-a9 described by GW.

Penn Libraries copy: leaf o8r, line 45 ends: perpendiculares a.

Cited in:

Goff E-113

BM 15th cent., V, p. 285 (IB.)

GW 9428

BSB-Ink. E-106

Walsh, J.E. 15th cent. printed books, 1805-1807

ISTC ie00113000

OCLC:

249348214