An Astronomical Perpetual Calendar
Padova, Stamperia del Seminario per Bernardo Luciani, 1688.

Novissima Inventione per dissegnare con grandissima facilite prestezza Horologi Solari, Italiani, Babilonici, e Francesi.

Large 4to. [22 x 16.5 cm], 136 pp., with 4 full-page engraved plates. Bound in modern wrappers. Gutter of title re-margined, with some worming in blank margin of title and plates repaired; some minor inkstains in margin of plates; some light waterstain in margin or gutter of scattered leaves, mainly at back; otherwise good.

Rare first and sole edition of this description of a sundial of the author's invention, which functioned as an astronomical perpetual calendar: determining for any day of the year the sun's rising, noon, setting, and mid-night, place of the sun in the Zodiac, etc. The work explains how to take basic measurements and co-ordinate them with the known physical points of Northern Italian cities through the calendar.


Nothing is known of the author, an Oratorian in Padova, and this appears to be his only work. NUC records five copies: Cornell, Wisconsin, New York Public, Folger & Harvard.

Riccardi II.429.1; Houzeau Lancaster 11,545; Tardy, p. 224; Houghton Hollis BHK 1307.

Price: $2,650.00

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