DEL MONTE, Guidobaldo. C Aequeponderantium Libros Paraphrasis Scholiis illustrata. Pesaro, Hieronymus Concordia, 1587 - 1588.
Bound with:
SCALETTA, Carlo Cesare. Scuola mecanico-speculativo-pratica.
Bologna, Constantino Pisani, 1711
“In duos Archimedis”. Rare first edition. This book on Archimedes' physics, written by Galileo's friend and first patron, is considered the greatest work on statics since the time of the Greeks. Guidobaldo uses the mathematically rigorous demonstrations of Archimedes' models to investigate static and mechanical questions. This work develops many of these ideas in a paraphrase of Archimedes' “On the Equilibrium of Planes,” which applied geometry to hydrostatics and demonstrated the law of the lever using pure geometry. These works had a profound and lasting impact on the methodology adopted by 16th-century Italian scientists, particularly Galileo.
DSB: “Guidobaldo was Galileo's patron and friend and was possibly the greatest single influence on the mechanics of Galileo.”
Guidobaldo del Monte (1545-1607), born into a wealthy family in Urbino, was a soldier, military engineer, astronomer, and mathematician. In addition to writing works on applied geometry and physics, he also wrote on perspective and developed mathematical instruments including the proportional compass and the elliptical compass.
In addition to his patronage, Guidobaldo also supported Galileo's candidacy for the chair of mathematics at the University of Padua in 1592. Galileo himself, who was sent a copy of this work, adopted Guidobaldo's analysis of the lever.
Riccardi II.179; DSB IX.487-489; Bibliotheca Chemico-Mathematica, 12033.
“Scuola mecanico-speculativo”. Rare first edition, illustrated. Aimed at both architects and engineers, the work covers the basic theoretical physics and practical applications involved in large-scale construction in early modern Italy. The author, an expert on ancient and modern authors on these subjects, refers to Archimedes, Euclid, Pappus, Vitruvius, Guidobaldo, M. Bettini, Riccioli, Galileo, Gassendi, Kircher, Schott, and Lana Terzi. The engraved plates show a large number of machines for construction, demolition, or other uses, each linked to a passage in the text: scales, levers, wheels, winches, pulleys, screws, cannons, catapults, and numerous geometric diagrams to demonstrate movement patterns. Aimed at both architects and engineers, the work covers the basic theoretical physics and practical applications involved in large-scale construction in early modern Italy.
Riccardi: “It is a work of some merit for the multiplicity of practical mechanical knowledge contained therein.”
The impressive engraved frontispiece offers a fascinating detailed, albeit imaginary, view of a construction site in an Italian square.
Robert & Trent: “the resistance of solid bodies and how it affects the operation of machines, with particular reference to artillery and both civil and military architecture.”
Riccardi II.427; Roberts & Trent, Bibliotheca Mechanica, p. 290.
Cfr. Ulrich Schuette et al, Architekt und Ingenieur: Baumeister in Krieg u. Frieden. Ausstellung der HAB (1984).
Two works bound together in one folio volume. 295x192 mm. 18th-century binding, mottled fawn calfskin, spine divided in sections with rich gilt embossing and gilt title on green morocco label, gilt squares. Handwritten note on the flyleaf with the titles of the two works, Macclesfield heraldic ex-libris glued to the front inside ecover “South Library” and Macclesfield dry stamp on the first pages.
First work: Pages [iv], 202, [2]. On the title page dated ‘1588’; on the colophon at the end dated ‘1587’. Text framed by double rules and illustrated with numerous diagrams.
Second work: Pages [xvi, including frontispiece] 188. ee, engraved by Giuseppe Moretti.
Volume of prestigious provenance, belonging to the famous Macclesfield Collection, the most important private English collection of scientific works, sold by Sotheby's in the 2000s.