Compilatio de astrorum scientia

Compilatio de astrorum scientia
Erhard Ratdolt, 1489
LEOPOLD OF AUSTRIA (13th century). Compilatio de astrorum scientia. Augsburg: Erhard Ratdolt, 9 January 1489.

First edition of an important Medieval astronomy book, with diagrams printed in red and black by Erhard Ratdolt. This influential work compiled by Leopold of Austria is based primarily on the writings of the Persian astronomer Abu Ma'shar, who worked as a astrologer at the Abbasid court in Baghdad and is known in Latin as Albumasar. This edition makes use of Ratdolt’s previous achievements in scientific printing, reusing some astrological woodcuts and color printing techniques to create a beautiful and legible addition to the scientific bibliography of the 15th century. HC 10042*; BMC II 382; BSB-Ink L-130; Bod-inc L-098; IGI 5747; Schr 4493; Klebs 601.1; Goff L-185; ISTC il00185000.

Chancery quarto (206 x 146mm). 109 leaves (of 110, without final blank). Numerous woodcuts and diagrams, some diagrams printed in red and black (a few small repaired tears, some browning). Modern red morocco. Provenance: erased marginalia – acquired from Philip C. Duschnes, New York, 15 March 1955.