First edition. 1586 Theodosii Tripolitae (Theodosius Tripolita) Sphaericorum (Spheres), Christopher Clavius. Provenance

Here is the first edition (1586) of Christopher Clavius' commentary on Theodosius Tripolita's (of Bithynia) treatise on spherical geometry. Intended for use in centers of higher learning, this textbook is rich in illustrations and is known as an important edition, furthering the field of spherical geometry. This copy with the provenance of a known Catholic church builder of the early 17th century.

Theodosius was an ancient Greek mathematician and astronomer. His work on the spheres was created to supplement what lacked in Euclid's work regarding spherical geometry. The first book introduces the theory of spheres, the second book considers the concept of tangent, and the third book considers the geometry relevant to astronomy.

Christopher Clavius expanded on Theodosius' work greatly, providing a step-by-step textbook; theorems that Theodosius referenced, or passed quickly by, Clavius explained, with the aid of illustrations. The larger quarto size of this textbook is a testament to the importance Clavius put on illustration, as many of the textbooks of this era are in the smaller octavo size.

This work is scarcer to market than Clavius' work on Sacrobosco, as this course of study would have been farther along (more students went through the Sacrobosco course).

Also, of note (and previous owner Owen Gingerich did note it on the inside of the front board), on page 377 Clavius states that Copernicus "hallucinari" (hallucinates, or wanders in mind) on his theories because he makes claims of knowing distances based on knowing two angles and one distance, when spheres require more of the variables to be known.

Provenance -

On the title page, and leaf A1, Audic wrote his name, a biblical passage (title page) and his title (leaf A1). Due to the unique nature of his name, he was rather easy to find in the annals of time. The inscription on A1 reads roughly:
Ex Libris Yvonis Audic presbyteri J. V. L. canonici eccla’ [ecclesiae] Venetensis, ac parochialis ecclesia d’Eluen rectoris.

Much of the title applied to A1 can be seen on page 35, Actes, Tiltres et Memoires..., Meschiniere, 1646 (scanned into Google Books). Ventensis being the Latinization of Vannes.

From the above book, and the online Patrimones et Archives, we can gather the below biography. Also, at the Patrimones et Archives, Audic's logbook of construction costs is scanned online (reference 74 G 25) where you can confirm his signature.

Yves Audic (active c. 1616–1642) was a Breton cleric originally from Rostrenen. Trained in the arts at the University of Paris and holding a license in both civil and canon law from the University of Poitiers, he served as canon of the cathedral chapter of Vannes (ecclesiae Venetensis) and as rector of the parish of Elven (Morbihan) for more than two decades. During his tenure he oversaw the construction of the tower and slate spire of Église Saint-Alban, dedicating it in 1642. His administrative accounts for the parish and chapter survive in the Archives départementales du Morbihan, and his name is preserved in the local ecclesiastical records of the early 17th century.

The biblical inscription on the title page is "Deduc me Domine in semitam mandatorum tuorum, quia ipsam volui" (Lead me, O Lord, in the path of the commandments, for I have desired it).

Also, Owen Gingerich, noted Harvard astronomer, author, bibliophile, historian, etc. owned this copy, with his ex libris tucked inside the front turn-ins (loose) and an (appropriate) note on Copernicus written on the inside of the binding.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 858965, 45 copies recorded in the world's finest libraries (BNF, Apostolica Vaticana, Christ's College, Balliol, Bodleian, Duke University, Columbia University, among others).

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 21 x 16 x 3.5 cm. Vellum wrapper (ties expired), title and author on spine in an "old hand". Title page with printer's mark. Diagrams and illustrations throughout.

Note, missing blank leaf Ss6 (confirmed with scanned copy this was a blank between sections) and last leaf with printer's mark only.

Pages - viii, 1-334, (missing blank), 337-514, missing unpaginated last leaf with printer's mark.

Collation - cross4, A-Z4, Aa-Ff4, Gg6, Hh-Rr4 ,Ss5 (Ss6, blank, not included), Tt4-Zz4, Aaa-Mmm4, Nnn6, Ooo-Qqq4, Rrr3 (Rrr4, having a printer's mark, not present).

Condition -

See pictures. Cockling to binding (waviness) and a few pin-sized holes; ties expired leaving remnants. Spine with toning, title and author in manuscript, in an old hand. Ink mark on back board, looks like a thumb. Binding without pastedowns and coming loose from ties to text block. Some writing on inside of boards.

First two gatherings dog-eared at bottom corner. Text block with some toning throughout, more towards edges. Occasional thumb, page edge chip, fox mark, toning, dog-eared page, candle ember mark, corner chip, moisture mark from bottom edge (just), etc.

Manuscript annotation at top of title page and A1 recto. Also name on title page, "Audic". 2nd leaf with a candle ember mark, two words affected. VERY small wormtrack in bottom margin of first gathering. Ss1 has several old repairs at gutter. Ss6, a blank between sections, missing (confirmed visually via scanned online copy). Also, last leaf, with printer's mark, missing.

Rubbing fore-edge of text block at front/rear.