Hard to disprove: Earth does NOT move

Grandami, J.

Nova demonstratio immobilitatis terrae petita ex virtut magnetica. Demonstratio immobilitatis terrae. Terra in aeternum stat. Aequivaletia longitudinum. Meridianus universalis sine declinatione.

Published 1645
Item ID 72315
€2,900.00

excl. VAT

La Flèche, George Griveau, 1645. Small 4to (20.0 x 15.3 cm). Engraved title page, [vi], 162 pp. [1-24; 33-170]; six engraved plates (of which three larger, folded), 23 (groups of) large, engraved text illustrations (some occupying a whole page), one table in the text. Early to mid-19th century polished quarter calf over marbled boards. Spine with gilt lines and ornaments, and two red morocco labels with gilt title and date. Red edges.

First edition of a beautifully illustrated attack on Copernicus's heliocentric world view by the French Jesuit priest Jacques Grandami (1588-1672). Grandami based much of his "evidence" on observations of magnetism. The spine foot bears the year 1644, probably based on the date of approbation (23 July, 1644), but it was published in 1645. As noted by another bookseller, "ABPC/RBH list only two copies sold since 1942 (neither of them presentation copies): Honeyman 1979, £700 (cont. calf worn, one plate torn and repaired), this subsequently offered by Howell in 1981 for $3250; Christie's 2016, £7500 (modern binding, uncut)". Plate count is difficult: there are six plates with blank versos, one plate (opposite p. 140) with two figures and a page numbering but with a blank verso; and 23 illustrations with page numbering on 21 text leaves. The total plate and text illustration count is therefore either six and 25, or seven and 23. Page numbering erroneously jumping from 24 to 33, thus without loss. Wax seal removed from title page and mounted on rear pastedown. Printed title page lacking. One illustration touching an edge; a few text sections very mildly age-toned, otherwise a very good, clean copy. Honeyman, 1535. Not in Houzeau and Lancaster.

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