Foullon, Descrittione, et uso dell'holometro, Venice, 1564

FOULLON, ABEL

Descrittione, et uso dell’holometro. Per saper misurare tutte le cose. Venice: Giordano Ziletti, 1564

FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN, 4to (200 x 140mm.), engraved illustrations, some full-page, woodcut initials, modern half vellum, some worming (marginal, repaired, but occasionally touching printed area), 3 plates slightly cropped at head

The holomètre is an instrument for making angular measurements in surveying. It had been invented by Foullon in 1551, in which year he was granted a ten-year exclusive monopoly on it by Henri II, on condition that he publish an account of his invention for use by the public when the patent expired. That account was printed in French in 1555 and 1567. Besides this Italian translation, a Latin translation was published in 1577.

LITERATURE:

Edit16 19600; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 197; Tomash & Williams F94; Wellcome I 2476; USTC 830451

PROVENANCE:

bought from Richard von Hünersdorff, London, 1988; Erwin Tomash, booklabel