PBA Galleries

[16], 355, [28] pp. ([dagger]8, A-Aa8). Woodcut portrait of the author on title-page verso, with his arms on following (dedication) leaf; 3 folding tables; woodcut device on title-page, head & tailpieces & initials, a few diagrams in the text. (8vo) 6¾x4¼, early vellum, inked spine title. First Edition.

A wealthy nobleman and an influential statesman within the lands of the Danish king, Rantzau, or Ranzovius, is today remembered for his literary and scholarly activities, including this notable work on astronomy. Quite rare: only two copies of the 1593 edition are listed in the RLG Union catalogue - at Columbia University and Brown University, and only two copies are indicated as having sold at auction in the last 30 years by the American Book Prices Current, in 1980 and 1987, the former being the Honeyman copy. With old inkstamp on title-page (a circle containing a G and a crown), ink shelf marks on front flyleaf, 19th century ownership signature on front free endpaper.