Matthias Beck, 1695–96

BECK, Matthias (1649–1701). [At-Taqwim sana 609] sive, Ephemerides Persarum. Augsburg: Lorenz Kroniger & Gottlieb Göbel’s Heirs, 1695–1696.

First and only edition of Beck’s Arabic astronomical calendar. Beck’s extensive commentary, derived from many Middle Eastern sources, comes after his astronomical tables rendered through both plates and woodcuts, capturing the vast scientific developments of the Islamic world in print.

Folio (317 × 122mm). Roman, Italic, Gothic, Hebrew and Arabic types. 14 sheets of engraved tables in Arabic, most printed recto and verso and with multiple plates, astronomical woodcut tables (occasional spotting, stain on title-page obscuring final â in “Hungariâ”, faint dampstain through upper corner of first quires, marginal toning). 18th-century quarter red morocco over marbled paper boards (scorched mainly on spine, hinges cracked, spine chipped, corners worn, scrapes to covers). Provenance: R.M. ?Tayler (20th-century ownership inscription on flyleaf) – Owen Gingerich (bookplate).