Rheticus, Georg Joachim von Lauchen (1514-1574); Lucius Valentinus Otho (1545 - 1603); Frederick IV, Elector Palatine of the Rhine 1574 - 1610), patron
Opus Palatinum de Triangulis a Georgio Joachimo Rhetico Coeptum, L. Valentinus Otho Principis Palatini Friderici IV Electoris Mathematicus Consummavit: De Fabrica Canonis Doctrinae Triangulorum ; de Triangulis Globi Cum Angulo Recto ; de Triangulis Globi Sine Angulo Recto Libri Quinque ; Meteoroscopium Numerorum Primum......... . . The Palatine Work on Triangles, Begun by Georg Joachim Rhaetianus, Was Completed by Lucius Valentinus Otho, the Mathematician of the Palatine; Frederick IV, the Elector: On the Construction of the Canon of the Doctrine of Triangles; on the Triangles of the Globe with a Right Angle; on the Triangles of the Globe without a Right Angle, Five Books; the First Meteoroscope of Numbers]. First Editions of Parts II, III, IV and V.
Neustadt an der Weinstrasse: Matthaeus Harnish), 1596 = Excud. M. Harnisius, Neostadii in Palatinatu, 1596. Folio. 22.5 x 35.5cm. Near-contemporary limp vellum, bookblock loose. First edition, 4 parts only (of 6), engraved title-page, woodcut initials and tailpieces, woodcut diagrams, some printing in red, woodcut printer’s device below colophon (Vvv5r), Rheticus’s name on b5 partly covered over with a contemporary slip of paper, blank leaves appearing before each part except first, quire P in duplicate, stubs from two pairs of ties, gilt edges, contemporary lettering to spine and number on upper cover, lacking quire L4, title-page slightly worn at extremities, cut close at foredge, partial library ink stamp on title-page, Otho’s name at end of preface partially effaced, some toning and damp staining in places throughout, Q2-3 with large brown stain, upper hinge broken, spine with small hole and creased, Title, Dedication and preface by LV Otho. - Parts - II: Rheticus, GJ, De fabrica canonis doctrinae triangulorum. 104 (recte 109) p. 1 w. sheet - III: Ill. De triangulis globi cum angulo recto. 140 (right 146) pp. 2 w. ll. (including 1 after p. 102). - IV: Otho, LV, De triangulis globi sine angulo recto libri quinque. 1 sheet, 341 (recte 342) p. 1 sheet with printer's mark, 1 white sheet - V: Ders. Meteoroscopium numerorum primum. 121 (recte 126) pp. 1 page errata. ***Georg Joachim Rheticus (1514-76), fellow student of Conrad Gesner and friend of Melanchthon, was an enthusiastic follower and contemporary of Copernicus. This work is of great historical importance as the first trigonometrical tables ever issued. Unfortunately, the work was unfinished at his death in 1574, but the publication of Rheticus’s work was accomplished by his pupil Valentin Otho in 1596. These trigonometrical tables (as corrected by Bartholomaeus Pitiscus in 1613) were still in use in the early twentieth century.... The mathematician and astronomer Georg Rheticus was the only pupil of Nicolaus Copernicus, whose De revolutionibus he helped publish. His major work was on the study of triangles, culminating in this comprehensive set of tables to be used in angular astronomical measurements; it also includes the first use of the word "cosecant". It was completed and published after his death by Valentin Otho (c.1545-1603). The tables were accurate enough to be used in astronomical computation into the early twentieth century..Rheticus’s fame rests on his connection with Copernicus, and his efforts to get De revolutionibus orbium coelestium published. This is the first edition of his work on triangles, a set of comprehensive set of tables using all six trigonometric functions for use in angular astronomical measurements. The work was unfinished at his death in 1574, but the publication of Rheticus’s work was accomplished by his pupil Valentin Otho (c. 1545-1603), eventually seeing the light of day in 1596. These trigonometrical tables (as corrected by Bartholomaeus Pitiscus in 1613) were still in use in the early twentieth century. LITERATURE & REFERENCES VD16 J 278; USTC 679854 (all 6 parts); OCLC Number / Unique Identifier:457809739; Cajori, A History of Mathematics, p. 132–”This was indeed a gigantic work, -a monument of German diligence and indefatigable perseverance ; Brunet IV, 1265 ; Adams R 443 ; Honeymann 2631 ; Sotheran suppl. I, 703 et suppl. II, 2295 “excessively rare work”. Manque à Smith, Rara Arithmetica. Burmeister, vol. I 175-180, II pp.79-80, n°42-43. Tomash & Williams R81. .

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