62

Valentin Engelhardt (1516-1562)

Libellus de Compositione et Usu Quadrantis Astronomici ac Geometrici. Author's Presentation Copy.

[Wittenberg], 1550.
First edition, quarto, title page inscribed, "Domino Andrea Kerner amico suo Valentinus Engelhartt," with later presentation from Kerner to Wolfgang Schopper; large and attractive woodcut diagrams throughout; bound in a later paper binding; lacking final ?blank; 8 x 6 in.

Engelhardt was born in Gotha, Germany and taught mathematics at the University of Erfurt. He composed calendars, prognostications and almanacs which were printed in the 1540s and '60s. In this particular book, he explains how to make and use a geometric quadrant, an instrument used to calculate time of day, longitude and latitude, very useful for seaborne navigation and preferred by Ptolemy over the astrolabe.

  • Notes: Ex libris Professor, Astronomer, Historian & Bibliophile Owen Gingerich.
  • Condition: A-D4, E1-3 (lacking final ?blank).

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