Against those who put the sciences of astronomy and astrology to base uses

Pighius, Albertus. Adversus novam Marci Beneventani astronomiam, quae positionem Alphonsinam, ac recentiorum omnium, de motu octavi orbis multis modis depravavit, & secum pugnantem fecit: Alberti Pighii Campensis apologia [...].

Paris, Simon Colinaeus, (3 May) 1522.

4to (140 x 196 mm). (6), 70 ff. With 35 woodcut diagrams in the text. Modern half vellum over marbled boards.

 7,500.00

First edition, rare (the earlier editions cited by Houzeau/L. are ghosts). Albert Pighius was born at Kampen in Holland ca. 1490 and died at Utrecht in 1542. Primarily a mathematician, he spent much time at the University of Paris, where this book was written. In this treatise, one of his polemical attacks against those who put the sciences of astronomy and astrology to base uses and employ them merely for the making of idle prognostications and popular almanacks, he praises Peurbach and Regiomontanus as true scientists, denouncing as a fraud the "Nova Astronomia" of Marcus Beneventanus.

Light waterstain to top edge of title-page; upper edge trimmed fairly closely throughout. A few ink annotations in a roughly contemporary hand. An excellent copy.

References

Adams P 1179. Houzeau/Lancaster 2373f. Lalande 43. Renouard (Colines), p. 40f. Renouard, ICP, III, 386. Poggendorff II, 450. OCLC 33631427. Not in BM-STC French, Mortimer, or Caillet.