Science & Technology / Optics & Perspective

ADAMS, George. Verhandeling over het zien, verklaarende kortlijk den aart van het zien, en het zamenstel van het oog; ten dienste van menschen, wier oogen zwak of ongesteld zijn; stellende hen in staat om een juist denkbeeld van de waare gesteldheid van hun gezicht te maaken, geevende de behoedmiddelen daar voor op, beneevens zekere regelen, om te weeten of men eenen bril noodig hebbe, en hoe dien als dan te kiezen, zonder dat hij het gezicht benadeele. Uit het Engelsch vertaald, en met aanmerkingen verrijkt door H. Aeneae.
Amsterdam, H. Gartman, W. Vermandel, J.W. Smit, 1792. 8vo. Large folding engraved plate with 8 images concerning optics such as cross-sections of the human eye, camera obscura, spectacles etc. Contemporary stiff sprinkled wrappers. [8], 174, [2] pp. Full description

ADHÉMAR, Joseph Alphonse. Traité des ombres. Théorie des teintes, des points brillants et de la perspective cavalière. Troisième édition. [Plates volume:] Cours de mathématiques à l'usage des architectes, ingénieurs civils, etc. Applications de géométrie descriptive. Ombres. Quatrième édition.
Paris, Armand Colin, etc.; Berlin; Madrid (plates volume: Paris, Armand Colin), 1870-1874. Text volume and atlas volume. 8vo (text) and folio (atlas). Atlas volume with letterpress title-page and numerous illustrations on 42 numbered engraved plates after the author, including 2 folding double-page plates (one of these numbered 12 bis) and 10 double-page plates. Contemporary uniform red half shagreen, gold-stamped spine, marbled boards. Text volume: X, [1], [1 blank], 388 pp. Full description

APIANUS (APIAN), Petrus and Gemma FRISIUS. Cosmographia.
Antwerp, Jan Verwithagen (colophon: printed by Verwithagen), 1574. 4to. With a large woodcut on the title-page (with a terrestrial globe and other instruments); 4 printed paper volvelles with moving parts and a woodcut sun dial with a string attached to its centre; a folding woodcut cordiform mappa mundi (block size 19×27.5 cm) with letterpress text in the margins; well over 100 further woodcut illustrations, diagrams, maps, etc., in the text. Recased in 17th-century(?) limp sheepskin parchment. [2], 64, [2] ll. plus folding woodcut. Full description

[ASTRONOMY - APIAN and others]. S.D.V.B (compiler). Een nieu constich boeck inde geometrie en de astronomiae, voor desen noyt in druck gheweest, ende is in ses stucken afghedeylt ...
(Colophon:) Rees, Abraham Wijlicx, 1608. Folio (30 x 19.5 cm). With a half-page woodcut illustration and some decorations built up from typographic ornaments on the title-page, 74 woodcuts of various sizes in text, many (near) full- and half-page, with some woodcut decorated initials (various series), a headpiece built up from typographic ornaments and an ornamental woodcut tailpiece. Contemporary vellum, sewn on four supports laced through the joints. 111, [1] pp. Full description

BACON, Roger. Perspectiva. In qua, quae ab aliis fuse traduntur, succincte, nervose & ita pertractantur, ut omnium intellectui facile pateant. Nunc primum in lucem edita. Opera & studio Joannis Combachii.
Frankfurt, Wolffgang Richter for Antonius Hummius, 1614. 4to. With 8 full-page woodcuts printed on both sides of four leaves inserted as plates, and numerous woodcut figures and illustrations in text, several full-page. Modern plain paper boards. [8], 189[=205], [1 blank] pp. Full description

CAUS (CAULS), Salomon de. La perspective avec la raison, des ombres et miroirs.
London, John Norton [printed partly by Jan Mommaert the elder in Brussels and partly by Richard Field in London], 1612. Royal folio (52 x 28.5 cm). With engraved title-page and 80 etched and engraved illustrations: 64 on otherwise blank pages, mostly on integral leaves (2 across double-pages, further mostly full-page), and 16 on the text pages (from small to half-page). Contemporary dark brown calf. Rebacked, restored and with new endpapers. engraved title + [5], 49, [16] ll. including engravings. Full description

CHEVILLARD, Alphonse. Leçons nouvelles de perspective, ... Avec atlas de 32 planches in - 4o.
Paris, Gauthier-Villars, 1868. 2 volumes. 8vo (text) and oblong 4to (atlas). Atlas volume with 32 steel-engraved plates by Dulos after the author. Contemporary uniform half maroon sheepskin, gold-tooled spines. XVI, 228 pp; [2] ll. plus 32 engraved plates. Full description

COUSIN, Jean. La vraye science de la pourtraicture descrite et demontrée ... Representant par une facile instruction plusieurs plans & figures de toutes les parties separées du corps humain: ensemble les figures entieres, tant d'hommes que femmes & de petits enfans, veuës de front, de fil, & de dos, avec les proportions, mesures & dimensions dícelles: et certaines regles pour racourcir par art toutes lesdites figures.
Paris, Guillaume Le Bé III, 1676. Oblong 4to. With a woodcut border on half-title and 36 full-page woodcut illustrations. Later limp vellum. 40 ll. Full description

DESAGULIERS, John Theophilus. De natuurkunde uit ondervindingen opgemaakt ... Uit het Engels vertaald door een liefhebber der natuurkunde.
Amsterdam, Isaak Tirion, 1751. 3 volumes. 4to. With 114 folding engraved plates. Contemporary half calf. [(26], 483, [24]; [16], 510, [2]; [8], 250, [66] pp. Full description

[DUBREUIL, Jean] and others. Advis charitables sur les diverses oeuvres, et feuilles volantes du Sr. Girard Desargues Lyonois. Publiees sous les titres.
I. De Brouïllon Projet d'une atteinte aux evenements des rencontres du cone avec un plan: ...
II. De Brouïllon Projet d'exemple d'une maniere universelle, touchant la pratique du traict a preuves, pour la couppe des pierres en l'architecture.
III. D'une maniere de tracer tous quadrans d'heures égales au soleil, au moyen du style posé: ...
Mis au jour. ...
With: [DUBREUIL, Jean]. Diverses methodes universelles, et nouvelles, en tout ou en partie pour faire des perspectives. ... Tirees pour la plus-part du contenu du livre de La perspective pratique. Ce qui servira de plus de response aux deux affiches du Sieur Desargues, contre ladite Perspective pratique.
Paris, Melchior Tavernier, François l'Anglois, dit Chartres, 1642. 2 works (4 & 2 parts) in 1 volume. 4to (25.5 x 18 cm). The first work in 4 parts. It lacks two small engraved plates. The second work with 10 full-page engravings on integral leaves. Half white sheepskin parchment (ca. 1900?). Ad 1: [4], [4]; 10; 14, [2 blank]; 17, [3 blank] pp.; Ad 2: [15] pp., 10 double-page spreads, [1 blank] p. Full description

[DUBREUIL, Jean]. The practice of perspective: or, an easy method of representing natural objects according to the rules of art. ... The third edition.
London, Thomas and John Bowles, 1749. 4to. With 2 folding engraved plates and 150 numbered full-page engravings on integral leaves.. Half calf (ca. 1985), gold-tooled spine. XIII, [5], 16, [1] pp., 18, [1], 19-41, [1], 42-121, [1], 122-128, [1], 129-150 double-page spreads, [1 blank] p. Full description

FABRI, Ottavio. L'uso della squadra mobile, con la quale per teorica, e pratica si misura geometricamente ogni distanza, altezza, e profondità; ... accresciuta in questa terza edizione di parecchie istruzioni, ..., ec. da Giovanni Vettori.
Trent, Stamparia Vescovile Paroniana [= Giambattista Parone, printer to the Diocese of Trent], 1753. 4to. With engraved architectural title-page, 1 unnumbered folding and 3 numbered illustration plates, 25 engraved illustrations in the text, engraved arms of the dedicatee, 1 engraved pictorial initial letter. Richly gold-tooled contemporary tanned sheepskin, silk ties, gilt edges. XII, 9-144 pp. Full description

FUSS, Nicolas. Instruction détaillée pour porter les lunettes de toutes les différentes especes au plus haut degré de perfection dont elles sont susceptibles tirée de la théorie dioptrique de Mr. Euler le pere et mise a la portée de tous les ouvriers en ce genre. Avec la description dún microscope qui peut passer pour le plus parfait dans son espèce et qui est propre à produire tous les grossissemens qu'on voudra.
St. Petersburg, Académie Imp. des Sciences, 1774. 4to. With 2 folding engraved plates. Contemporary Russian mottled calf, richly gold-tooled spine. Rebacked (ca. 1810?). [10], 83, [1 blank] pp. plus plates. Full description

GWILT, Joseph. Sciography; or, examples of shadows; and rules for their projection: intended for the use of architectural draughtsmen.
London, J. Taylor (back of title-page: printed by J. Moyes, London), 1822. Large 8vo. With 18 folding lithographed plates. Contemporary half calf. 43, [5], 20 pp. Full description

HAMILTON, Hugh. De sectionibus conicis. Tractatus geometricus. In quo, ex natura ipsius coni, sectionum affectioens [!] facillime deducuntur. Methodo nova.
London, William Johnston, 1758. 4to. With numerous illustrations on 17 folding engraved plates. Contemporary French gold-tooled red goatskin morocco, with the arms of the French King Louis XV in the centre of each board and his crowned monogram in each compartment (except that with the title) of the spine. [4], VIII, 211, [1] pp. Full description

HOUTEN, Hendrik van. Verhandelinge van de grontregelen der doorzigtkunde, of tekenkonst (perspectief,) leerende de middelen en wyze, hoe alles in de doorzigtkunde, kan werden afgeteekend. Zeer dienstig voor bouwmeesters, schilders, teekenaars, enz. Op een korte manier afgebeeld en voorgedraagen.
Amsterdam, Jan ten Hoorn, 1705. 4to. With large allegorical engraving on the title-page, several woodcut figures in the text, 20 basic mathematical figures on a folding engraved plate, and numerous models of perspective drawings on 52 numbered folding engraved plates. Contemporary marbled boards. [4], 72 pp. Full description

KREBS, Johann Friedrich. De radio reflexo variorum phaenomenorum & egregiorum effectuum opticorum causa, ... Respondente Friderico Wilhelmo Madero, ...
Jena, Samuel Krebs, 1674. 4to. 19th-century(?) glazed marbled wrappers. [32] pp. Full description

LAUSSEDAT, Aimé. Recherches sur les instruments, le méthodes et le dessin topographiques, ... Tome I. Aperçu historique sur les instruments et les méthodes. La topographie dans tous les temps. Tome II. Première partie: Iconométrie et métrophotogravure. Tome II. Deuxième partie: Développement et progrès de la métrophotographie à l'étranger et en France.
Paris, Gauthier-Villars, 1898-1903. 3 parts in 2 volumes. Large 8vo. With more than 300 illustrations in the text, several photographic, and 47 mostly folding or double-page maps, plans, profiles and plates. Contemporary half sheepskin. XI, [1 blank], 449, [1]; [4], 198; [4], 287, [1] pp. Full description

LUDERS, Theodoric. Traicté mathematique contenant les principales definitions, problemes et theoremes d'Euclide. l'Arithmetique decimale. . . . La fortification Hollandoise. Francoise. Italienne. Et Espagnolle.
Paris, [Jean Jombert], 1680. With engraved title-page, engraved table, and 34 numbered engraved plates (11 double-page).
With: (2) LUDERS, Theodoric. Traité d'arithmetique contenant les reigles necessaires aux marchands, banquiers, changeurs, &. financiers: . . .
Paris, [Jean Jombert], 1680. 2 works in 1 volume. Large folio (50×34.5 cm). Contemporary mottled calf, richly gold-tooled spine (rebacked with original backstrip laid down). Full description

MILIZIA, Francesco. Principi di architettura civile. Finale, Jacopo de' Rossi, 1781. 3 volumes. 4to. With tables of proportion in text and on a large folding leaf, and 18 architectural measured drawings and perspective and other views of domes, pinnacles, arches, curves and spires on 8 full-page engraved plates, all bound in the third volume.
Contemporary half sprinkled calf, marbled sides, gold-tooled spines with black morroco spine labels, red sprinkled edges.
With:
(2) CIPRIANI, Giovanni Battista. Indice delle figure relative al Principi di architettura civile di Francesco Milizia.
Rome, Nella stamperia Salomoni, si vende da Giov. Pietro, 1800. 8vo. With numerous illustrations on 27 double-page plates, illustrating Milizia's work, showing architectural measured drawings and perspective and other views of buildings and details of buildings, theatres, bridges, gardens, etc., models of ornament and decoration, technical building instruments, building materials, etc. (10 plates for vol. 1, 12 plates for vol. 2, 5 plates for vol. 3). Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine with red label, red edges. 480; 515, [1 blank]; 442; 76 pp. Full description

MYDORGE, Claude. Examen du livre des recreations mathematiques.
Rouen, Charles Osmont, 1643, 8vo. With numerous woodcut illustrations illustrating the problems. Contemporary limp vellum. [1], [1 blank], [5], [1 blank], [7], [1 blank], 280, 63, [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [2], 67-106, [43], [1 blank] pp. Full description

NICERON, Jean-François. La perspective curieuse du reverend P. Niceron. Minime divisee en quatre livres. Loptique et la catoptrique du R. P. Mersenne du meseme ordre, mise en lumiere aprés la mort de lautheur. Oeuvre tres-utile aux peintres, architects, sculpteurs graveurs, & à tous autres qui se meslent du dessein.
Paris, Jean du Puis, 1663.
Including: MERSENNE, Marin. L'optique et la catoptrique du reverend Pere Mersenne minime. Novvellement mise en lumiere, aprés lar mort de lautheur. Paris, the widow of F. Langlois, 1651.
2 works in 1 volume. Folio. With a (partially) folded full page engraved portrait of the author as a frontispiece, an engraved title-page, a large woodcut vignette on the title-page, 50 full page engraved plates (including 1 folding), all numbered in a decorative banner in the plate.Contemporary or near contemporary (late 17th or early 18th century) brown calf. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [8], 191, [1]; [1], [1 blank], [10], 134, [2 blank] pp. Full description

PECKHAM, John and Georg HARTMANN. Perspectiva communis. Ideo sic dicta, quod contineat elementa tès optigès, omnibus philosophiae studiosis necessaria.
Nürnberg, Johan Petreius, 1542. Small 4to (18 x 15 cm). With 44 woodcut diagrams in text. Modern boards. [55] ll. Full description

[MANUSCRIPT]. PRÉVOST, M. Cours de géométrie pratique professé par M. Prevost et suivi par C.F. Frenet. Comprenant 1o. La géométrie élémentaire avec ses applications au toisé, au cubage, géodésie, etc. 2o. La géométrie descriptive avec ses applications à la perspective, à la coupe des pierres etc.
[Lyon?, ca. 1825?]. Oblong folio (35 x 45 cm). With a flourished calligraphic title-page signed "[Charles] Esclozas scripsit", and 140 leaves with more than 350 figures in black ink and sometimes pencil, red ink or coloured washes (blue, yellow, red, green and grey), illustrating plain and solid geometry, projections, perspective, architecture, bridges, cartography, globes, sundials, etc., and with text and illustrations in black thick-thin borders. Contemporary green half morocco, spine richly gold-tooled. [1], [1 blank], [97], [1 blank] pp. plus 140 illustration ll. partly numbered in 13 series. Full description

RISNER, Friedrich. Opticae libri quatuor ex voto Petri Rami novissimo Fridericum Risnerum per ejusdem in mathematicis adjutorem olim conscripti, ...
Kassel, Wilhelm Wessel (sold by Johann Berner in Frankfurt), 1615. 4to. With numerous optical, astronomical and mathematical woodcut diagrams in text, woodcut headpieces, tailpieces and initials, and headpieces built up from cast fleurons. 18th-century tan calf, gold-tooled double fillets, re-backed in sheepskin. [20], 259, [1 blank] pp. Full description

ROSSETTI, Donato. Antignome fisico-matematiche con il nuovo orbe, e sistema terrestre.
Livorno, Giovanni Vincenzo Bonfigli, 1667. 4to. With 66 woodcut diagrams and other illustrations in text. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment, with 2 fastenings made from loops of braided cord on the front cover but only traces of thongs on the back. XII, 179, [1] pp. Full description

SCHÜBLER, Johann Jakob. Grondige en duydelyke onderwyzing der volkomen kolommen-ordening, zoo als men dezelve in de heedendaagse-boukunst, gewoon is te gebruyken. ...
Including: Het tweede deel van het Grondig onderwys ..., waar in voorgestelt word zes nieuwe geinventeerde portaalen met sierlyke balkons op vrystaande kolommen; ...
Amsterdam, Petrus II Schenk, 1728. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio (33.5 x 20.5 cm).. With 2 title-pages, each with the same large engraved illustration of an Amsterdam patrician's residence, 2 engraved architectural frontispieces, and 34 illustration plates (I-XVII, I-XVII), al engraved after the author's drawings, mostly by Renz and Montalegre (the second frontispiece by Johann Christoph Weigel). Modern maroon half calf. [6], 16; [4], 22 pp. plus frontispieces and plates. Full description

[SMITH, Robert and others]. The elementary parts of Dr. Smith's compleat system of opticks, selected and arranged for the use of students at the universities: to which are added in the form of notes some explanatory propositions from other authors.
Cambridge, printed by J. Archdeacon, 1778. Large 4to (27 x 20.5 cm). With 17 numbered, folding engraved plates. Contemporary gold-tooled brown sprinkled calf, gold-tooled red morocco spine label, gold-tooled board edges. VI, [9], [1 blank], 119, [1 blank] pp. Full description

SUAREZ DE FIGUEROA, Christobal (Thomaso GARZONI). Plaza universal de todas ciencias, y artes, parte traduzida de Toscano, y parte compuesta por el doctor Christoval Suearez de Figueroa.
Perpignan, Luis Roure, 1630 (colophon: 1629). 4to. With title printed in woodcut border with large woodcut coat of arms; interesting woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces. Contemporary mottled calf. [8], 379, [1 blank] ll. Full description

[TAISNIER, Jean (?)]. La science curieuse, ou traité de la chyromance, récueilly des plus graves autheurs que ont traité de cette matiere, & plus exactement recherché qu'il n'a esté cy-devant par aucun autre.
Paris, Francois Clousier, 1665. 4to (21.5 x 16.5 cm). Illustrated with 90 engraved plates (9 showing 1 full-page hand each, 1 table and 80 showing 16 smaller hands each, with the relevant lines for reading palms). With 1 woodcut decorated initial, and several woodcut head- and tailpieces. Contemporary mottled calf, sewn on 5 supports, gold-tooled board edges, gold-tooled spine with the title lettered in gold. [1], [1 blank], [6], 212 pp. Full description

VERGNAUD, Armand Denis. Manuel de Perspective, du dessinateur et du peintre, contenant les élémens de géométrie indispensables au tracé de la perspective, la perspective linéaire et aérienne, et l'étude du dessin et de la peinture spécialement appliquée au paysage.
Paris, Roret, 1825. 12mo. With 8 folding engraved plates. Modern cloth. (4), 229, (1) pp. Full description