Beschreibung:

Title: The sphere of Marcus Manilius made an English poem: with annotations and an astronomical appendix. By Edward Sherburne, Esquire Author: Manilius, Marcus Place: London Publisher: Printed for Nathanael Brooke, at the sign of the Angel in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange Date: 1675 Description: [20], 68; [2], 221, [9] pp. With copper-engraved allegorical frontispiece by Wenceslaus Hollar & 11 copper-engraved plates, 6 folding (2 of which, northern and southern heavens, are joined); 7 copper-engravings of solar systems in the text; engraved headpieces & initials. (folio) 16x10½, period calf, rebacked with later calf, corners restored. First Edition of this translation, with an extensive appendix. Very rare presentation copy of what is undoubtedly the grandest and most magnificently printed 17th century English work on astronomy. The work is a translation of Manilius' first book on the Sphere - the properly astronomical portion of Manilius' work. More notably, contains a lengthy overview of the history of astronomy ("The Original and Progress of Astronomy"), a 101-page "Catalogue of the most Eminent Astronomers, Ancient & Modern," of great significance, and explanations of the Cosmical System, constellations, the sun, the moon, various planets, an extensive illustrated discussion of comets, etc. etc. The plates include celestial maps of the two hemispheres; an illustration of the sun (with its sunspots); 3 plates of the moon; and 5 plates depicting the different visual form of comets. Printed in large type on thick paper, with finely engraved plates, the work is both rare and of great import, and especially scarce in presentation format. Inscribed by Sherburne on the front free endpaper "For his Honorable friend Col. George Legg, Gouvernor of his Majs. Towne and Garison of Portsmouth, &c." George Legg, or Legge, later 1st Baron Dartmouth, had a long and distinguished naval career before being made governor of Portsmouth and lieutenant-general of ordnance. It was in this latter post that he was associated with Edward Sherburne, whose lengthy service at the ordnance provided the means for making the translations and writing the poetry that that brought him enduring fame. Signed "Dartmouth" on the back of the title-page, and with a 19th century bookplate of Earl of Dartmouth on the front pastedown. There are a few instances of old ink corrections in the text. Lot Amendments Condition: Some minor marginal foxing or browning, darkening to margins of endpapers, top blank corner of Lll2 restored, light set-off from the dedication-page to the title-page (the two leaves were evidently pressed together before being bound); overall in very good or better condition, an exceptional copy of an exceptional book. Item number: 204554