1552 Almanach Novum Petri Pitati... MDLII usque ad annum MDLXII. Ephemerides

This 1552 work of Pietri Pitati explains and extends the years of ephemerides (calculations of the locations of the heavenly bodies for use in navigation, medicine, etc.), produced using the earlier Alfonsine calculation method, but providing ways to correct and calculate the locations of the sun/stars based on updated discoveries, noting specifically that the year is not exactly 365 days and 6 hours.

On page 19, the verso, Pitati explains how to calculate for error in the suns location based on the year, using the tropical day length.

This issue would be resolved with adoption of the Gregorian reforms later in the century. Pitati's efforts are considered a mid-century reconciliation as the issue became clear but the resolution hadn't been finalized.

Still other issues persisted. The Alfonsine calculations were dated and placing stars wrongly, but the new Prutenic Tables (based on Copernicus' De Revoltionibus) hadn't been perfected yet.

Tycho Brahe, in 1563, complained that both tables Alfonsine tables and Prutenic tables were inaccurate when two planets passed close to each other, but the tables were off by as far as a month.

This Pitati work is a rare, one year only edition, that produced ephemerides from 1552 to 1562.

This copy is notable for its provenance (see below), the nice (although newer) binding, hand-drawn manicules and several tabs added with wax and paper stubs.

Provenance -

The ex libris ticket of the Harvard astronomer and historian Owen Gingrich.

About the Printer

Produced by the venerable 16th century Giunta printing family.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 849027, 26 copies recorded in the world's finest libraries (Cambridge University, BNF, Vaticana, etc. No copies recorded in the U.S.

Censimento Nazionale delle Edizioni... 27205

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 23 x 17 x 3.5 cm. Vellum binding with ties. Printer's mark. Some illustrations of diagrams, moon phases, etc. Many tables.

Pages - 60, [154]

Collation - A-F8, G12, eleven years of 14 leaves. Collates complete.

Condition -

See pictures. Fresh vellum binding. Front pastedown has lifted, showing structure of binding underneath (possibly on purpose?). Ex libris plate on pastedown, with "First and only edition of extended range" written under. Older blank binder's page at front with numerous bookseller marks, "166474", "Pitatus PB 533.606", etc.

Text block with moisture marks from the edges throughout. Occasional toning, thumbing, fox spots, dog eared corner, page edge/corner chip, etc. Marginal annotations and manicules. Four leaves with old tabs mounted on fore-edge. 4th leaf of 1561 with a "1561 iv" written at bottom of recto and corresponding strikethrough of mislabeled IIII. Top corner of 1561 and 1562 chipped away, sometimes just touching month header.