BRAHE, Tycho (1546-1601).

BRAHE, Tycho (1546-1601). 

Opera omnia, sive astronomiae instauratae progymnasmata in duas partes distributa... Secunda autem de mundi aetherei recentioribus phaenomensis agit. Frankfurt: Johann Gottfried Schnwetter, 1648.

First collected edition of Brahe’s Progymnasmata and De mundi Aetherei: a large copy preserving numerous deckle edges. The first work, originally published posthumously by Kepler at Prague in 1602, was ‘the foundation on which Kepler, and later newton, built their astronomical systems’ (Sparrow). It contains Brahe\'s observations of the supernova in Cassiopeia of 1572-1574, as well as his revisions of the theories of solar and lunar movement and a catalogue of the positions of 777 fixed stars. The second work, first published at Uraniborg in 1588, records Brahe\'s observations of the comet of 1577, and a description of his geoheliocentric theory of the universe, a view that evolved from his study of these two astronomical phenomena, and which was one of several new theories that helped pave the way for acceptance of the Copernican doctrine. Houzeau and Lancaster 2704; Norman 321.



Two parts in one, quarto (238 x 190mm). Each part separately titled and paginated, 9 full-page woodcuts of astronomical instruments, numerous smaller woodcut diagrams, publisher\'s woodcut devices on titles and colophon page, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials (browning throughout as usual, repair to lower blank corner of title, faint marginal stain in last few quires, without the 2-leaf dedication omitted in some copies). Contemporary vellum, lettered in manuscript to spine, yapp edges (upper cover stained). Provenance: ?J Rahbr (early inscription on title) – partly erased 19th-century library stamp on title, possibly that of a Gymnasium in Rinteln, Germany.