SALUSBURY, Thomas (c.1625-c.1665). Mathematical Collections and Translations: The First Tome. In two parts. London: William Leybourn, 1661.

The first edition of Galileo’s Dialogs in English and the first appearance in English of any part of Kepler. Galileo's System of the World is followed by the short but important Epistle to the Grand Dutchesse Mother concerning the Authority of Holy Scripture in Philosophical Controversies (known today as the Letter to Christina). It was only the second work of Galileo's to be published in England. It preceded the Latin edition, published in London by Thomas Dicas, by two years and remained the only vernacular translation for two centuries. Apart from the two works by Galileo, Salusbury included 7 other translations from Italian and Latin in volume I of his Collections. The most thrilling of these is Johannes Kepler's "An Introduction upon Mars," pp. 461-467.

The title-page to part two of volume I mis-states that it is 'the second tome', an obvious cause of confusion. However, the contents to both tome I and II are given on a preliminary leaf. Some copies also include an errata leaf following 3Z2 (not present here). The general title in this copy retains the sub-title "In two tomes" (this work also found with a cancellans eliminating the phrase). Carli-Favaro 276; ESTC R19153; Wing S-517.

Folio (330 x 230mm). Volume one only; volume two was not published until 1665 (and was largely destroyed in the Great Fire). With four folding engraved plates on full aprons, one for each of Galileo's dialogues, and some in-text engravings and woodcuts. (Small marginal repairs to first 3 prelims and 2 leaves of second index, ink-stamped numbering and erasures to foot of dedication; pale browning from dampstain and scattered minor soiling, edges toned and with scattered small chips.) Paneled English calf (rebacked to style, endpapers renewed). Provenance: an early hand records on the second contents page: "The second tome was never quite printed and the Great fire comming swept away all that part that was printed saving some two or three in private hands."