KEPLER, Johannes (1571-1630). Ad Vitellionem paralipomena, quibus astronomiae pars optica traditur. Frankfurt: Claudius Marnius and heirs of Johannes Aubrius, 1604.

First edition of Kepler's first foray into the science of vision, which "established the beginning of modern optics" (DiLaura). At a certain point in Kepler's work on the orbit of Mars, he realized that to take and understand accurate visual observations of the heavens, he would need to investigate the nature of the human faculty of sight itself—along with its potential treacheries. His mentor Tycho had already pointed out the errors caused by using a camera obscura to determine the sizes of the sun and moon during an eclipse. During the solar eclipse of 10 July 1600, Kepler decided to investigate these errors by taking meticulous notes on his eclipse observations, as well as the measurements of his device. This notebook, which he then used to record his further studies in optics and work out his theories on pin-hole image formation, became the seed of the present treatise. Its title is a reference to Witelo, the author of an important medieval treatise on perspective.

The first part of the book deals with human vision and the function of the eye, including the role of the retina, the process of refraction, and the first scientifically correct explanation of myopia. The illustration of the anatomy of the eye is copied from Flex Platter's work on the subject, which was influential on Kepler's ideas. The second part, in six sections, addresses the astronomical implications of the first. This text "produced four significant advances in optics: the nature of light, the formation of images from pin-holes (the camera obscura), the nature of images from mirrors and lenses, and the optics and function of the eye … and permanently established the camera obscura as the model of the eye. In this way, [this work] fissioned medieval Perspectiva into two sciences: that of light and that of vision" (DiLaura). Its publication was in some ways almost accidental; after losing a lawsuit brought against him by the Tychonics over ownership of Tycho's data and unfinished projects, Kepler had to quickly bring out two works based on his private investigations—comprising the present work as well as the monumental Astronomia nova (see lot 15). Caspar 18; DiLaura 52; Cinti 13; Krivatsy 6343. Exhibited: "The Heavens Revealed," Chapin Library, Williams College, 2003.

Quarto (196 x 157mm). Two folding tables. Engraved plate depicting anatomy of the eyeball, woodcut diagrams and decorations, printer's device on title (some gatherings quite browned as often, dampstaining, a little worming mostly just in the gutter, but affecting some text in gathering GGG and the two folding tables, one worse than the other). 19th-century binding reusing a sheet from a twelfth-century manuscript glossed Bible, yapp edges, slit for ribbon ties now absent, earlier paper manuscript titling and shelfmark labels on spine preserved (a little damage and repair to spine). Provenance: Wolfgang Engelbrecht von Auesperg, Graf, 1610-1673, of Ljubljana (ex libris inscription dated 1655 on title) – Fürstlich Auerspergische Fideikommissbibliothek, Ljubljana (bookplate with shelfmark; according to MEI, after being kept at the Prince's Palace, at least part of this library was moved to Austria in 1895 after a fire and then ultimately sold, Sotheby's 14-15 June 1982, property of Senhor German Mailhos and Senhora Johana Auersperg de Mailhos from Uruguay, lot 200) – Giancarlo Beltrame (his sale, Christie's, 13 July 2016, lot 64).