APIAN, Peter (1495-1552). Quadrans Apiani astronomicus et iam recens inventus et nunc primum editus. Ingoldstadt: by the author, 6 July 1532 [Bound with:] STÖFFLER, Johann (1452-1531). Tabulae astronomicae. Tübingen: Thomas Anselm, 1514. [and:] Johann STÖFFLER. Calendarium romanum magnum. Oppenheim: Jacob Köbel, 24 March 1518.

Fresh copy of a Sammelband of important early astronomical works, including Peter Apian's treatise on instruments and Stöffler's extremely rare Tabulae with the instrumentum sheet, in a contemporary pigskin binding. The first text here, Apian's Quadrans, describes and illustrates several newly invented instruments designed for use by astronomers. Apian was a polymathic mathematician, designer, and printer who, funded by Charles V, established his own innovative print shop to promulgate his work. Bound after it are two works by Johann Stöffler, professor of mathematics at Tübingen. "He was an authority on methods of defining longitude and latitude and was well known for his works on the calendar and the astrolabe" (Tomash and Williams). The first treatise was printed by the humanist publisher Thomas Anselm at Tübingen; its chief feature is the Instrumentum astrologicum, which was added on a final sheet after the printing of the text had already been completed, necessitating the pasted-on correction slip to the title-page. The book is very rare, with no copies recorded at auction by RBH, and even rarer complete with the Instrumentum sheet.

The final text is Stöffler's richly illustrated revised calendar—a task he took up after the death of Regiomontanus. "The publisher of this work, Jacob Köbel, was the first printer in Oppenheim. He established his press there in 1499. Köbel was a mathematician in his own right and his name appears in several places in this work. Apparently, he decided to put his name on every sheet that he considered to be a good example of printing" (Tomash and Williams). I) Adams A-1296; Stillwell 814; Zinner 1476. Tomash & Williams A86; VD16 A3110. II) VD16 S 9204. III) Adams S-1884; Tomash and Williams S196.

Folio (294 x 194mm). I) Title printed in red and black. Woodcuts of astrological figures and instruments (scattered worming in text, a few dampstains). II) Printed in red and black. Printed correction slip on title page. Double-page woodcut instrument with moveable pointer sewn in on sheet E1.2, mounted on stub (scattered wormholes). III) Errata and register bound after index instead of at end. Printed in red and black. Title and first leaf with woodcut borders, full-page woodcut of astrological man, small city-view cuts, genre scenes, and zodiac symbols illustrating calendar, woodcut diagrams in eclipse calendar, 4 full-page woodcuts of instruments, one with thread still present (a few sheets toned, some spots, a few woodcuts just shaved). Contemporary blindstamped pigskin, clasps and catchplates, spine painted white with title in ink (boards wormed). Provenance: marginalia throughout in several hands, including longer passages on the pastedowns – PIGAR? monogram dated 1533 – Johannes Jacobus Halbmerus, Rotenburgens (struck through inscription dated 1538) – David Christellius (inscription on pastedown and titles of Quadrans and Calendarium) – Joannes Reisner (inscription on Quadrans title) – Kloster Indersdorf ("Canonie Ünderstorffensis" inscription) – erased stamp on Quadrans title.